Key minerals
Lithium carbonate prices continued their steep reduction, with cobalt prices stabilising somewhat (falling just 5% after a 54% drop in 2019)
Lithium production fell 4.6% on a drop in Australian output, while Cobalt output rose 2.9% as production in the Democratic Republic of Congo partially recovered from its dip in 2019.
Rare earth metals production expanded by 23.2%, driven by strong growth in Australia and the US.
Prices for cobalt and lithium carbonate both fell (by 5% and 40% respectively) to their lowest levels since 2016.
Cobalt prices (thousands of $ per tonne*)
* 2000-2012 spot grade for cathodes, source US Geological Survey. Data from 2013 onwards: min purity 99.8%, source London Metal Exchange.
Lithium carbonate prices (thousands of $ per tonne†)
