Livent
Livent extracted battery-grade lithium compounds from brine resources in Argentina's Lithium Triangle for global battery and EV manufacturers, ranking among the world's top seven lithium producers before merging with Allkem in 2024 and being acquired by Rio Tinto in 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Livent does
Livent is a U.S.-incorporated (Delaware) lithium extraction and processing company founded in 2018 that operated brine-based lithium operations concentrated in Argentina's Lithium Triangle, across the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta. Its core product is battery-grade lithium compounds, principally lithium hydroxide, extracted via proprietary brine processing including Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) capabilities and supported by intellectual property such as a 2022 prelithiation patent (Livent USA Corp.) targeting silicon anode EV battery architectures. The company also positions its brine-based extraction as having lower water usage and reduced surface disturbance relative to hard rock mining, and claims to support over 5,000 rural jobs through its Argentine operations.
Livent generated revenue through B2B sales of lithium compounds to battery manufacturers and EV OEMs (Tesla is named among downstream consumers), with a go-to-market centered on long-term offtake agreements and direct enterprise sales rather than consumer channels. Pricing was exposed to global lithium benchmarks, which collapsed roughly 80% from approximately $80,000 to $12,000-$15,000 per tonne between November 2022 and December 2023. In 2024, Livent merged with Allkem Limited in an all-stock transaction to form Arcadium Lithium plc, one of the world's largest integrated lithium producers spanning Argentina, Australia, and North America. In March 2025, Rio Tinto completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for approximately $6.7 billion, making the combined entity (including the former Livent operations) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto; Livent's independent corporate existence has accordingly ceased.
Livent firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Livent
- Legal name
- Livent Corp
- Website
- https://livent.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Livent extracted battery-grade lithium compounds from brine resources in Argentina's Lithium Triangle for global battery and EV manufacturers, ranking among the world's top seven lithium producers before merging with Allkem in 2024 and being acquired by Rio Tinto in 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Livent industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lithium Compounds Manufacturing
- SIC
- Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Direct Recycling & Cathode Regeneration (Relithiation, Reconditioning) (EUAFACAF)
Keywords
Where Livent is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Livent business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lithium compounds sales: Livent generates revenue through the production and sale of lithium compounds (primarily lithium hydroxide) extracted from brine operations in Argentina, supplying materials for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
- Battery materials supply: Revenue derived from supplying lithium materials to battery manufacturers for EV and energy storage applications.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Livent product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Livent fundamentally extracts lithium compounds from brine deposits in Argentina's Lithium Triangle and processes them into battery-grade materials, primarily lithium hydroxide, for use in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. The company operates brine-based extraction and processing operations in Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta provinces, with lower water usage and reduced surface disturbance compared to traditional hard rock mining. Livent also holds prelithiation technology intellectual property for next-generation silicon anode EV batteries.
Product overview
Livent is a lithium extraction and processing company that operates brine-based lithium operations. The company merged with Allkem Limited to form Arcadium Lithium plc and was subsequently acquired by Rio Tinto for approximately $6.7 billion. Livent's core business involves extracting and processing lithium from brine deposits in the Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia), with operations in provinces including Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta. The company also holds intellectual property in prelithiation technology for silicon anode EV batteries. As of 2023-2024, Livent is identified among the world's seven largest lithium producers, collectively supplying materials for over 70% of global electric vehicle batteries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide Battery-grade lithium hydroxide produced from brine-based extraction operations in Argentina's Lithium Triangle for use in EV batteries and energy storage systems. Sold to battery manufacturers and EV producers under long-term supply agreements.
- Brine-Based Lithium Extraction Operations Brine-based lithium extraction and processing operations located in Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta provinces of Argentina, producing lithium compounds for downstream battery material production. The operations serve as the upstream feedstock source for battery manufacturers and EV companies.
- Prelithiation Technology Intellectual property in prelithiation technology for silicon anode batteries, filed as a patent in 2022 by Livent USA Corp. Targeted at next-generation electric vehicle battery materials and solid-state battery integration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports over 5,000 rural jobs through lithium extraction and processing operations
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Livent
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Livent technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Livent partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Argentina GovernmentcoreLivent operates under Argentina's regulatory framework offering 20-30 year fiscal stability for foreign direct investment in the country's critical minerals sector, particularly in the Lithium Triangle region.
- Arcadium Lithium (formed from Allkem-Livent merger)coreLivent merged with Allkem Limited in 2024 to form Arcadium Lithium plc, creating one of the world's largest lithium producers with combined operations spanning Argentina, Australia, and North America.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Livent competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Rio Tinto: Acquirer of Arcadium Lithium (Livent + Allkem) for $6.7B in 2025. As Livent's parent company, Rio Tinto now controls Livent's assets and competes indirectly via its broader critical minerals portfolio and integrated lithium strategy.
Emerging players
- Sigma Lithium: Brazilian hard-rock lithium developer focused on battery-grade sustainable production. Smaller scale than Livent but competes in the same low-carbon lithium supply narrative for Western EV customers.
- Piedmont Lithium: US-based lithium developer targeting integrated spodumene-to-hydroxide production in North Carolina and Tennessee. Directly overlaps with Livent's Bessemer City footprint and the same US battery OEM customer base.
- Lithium Americas: North and South American lithium developer with Thacker Pass (US) and past Argentine brine projects. Competes with Livent for IRA-aligned Western battery supply and Argentina resource access.
Direct peers
- Pilbara Minerals: Australian hard-rock spodumene producer supplying lithium concentrates into the same battery-grade conversion supply chain as Livent. Direct competitor for downstream lithium chemical offtakes.
- Mineral Resources Limited: Australian lithium hard-rock producer (Mt Marion JV with Ganfeng) and integrated mining services provider. Direct competitor in upstream lithium concentrate feeding the same downstream conversion market.
- Ganfeng Lithium: Chinese vertically integrated lithium producer spanning resources, processing, and battery materials. Competes with Livent in lithium hydroxide and carbonate supply, with broader downstream exposure.
- Albemarle: World's largest lithium producer, operating both brine assets in Chile/Argentina and hard-rock resources in Australia. Direct competitor to Livent across battery-grade lithium compounds, EV customer base, and global supply contracts.
- SQM: Chilean-based lithium producer with major brine operations in the Salar de Atacama. Competes head-to-head with Livent in battery-grade lithium chemicals and serves the same global EV/battery OEM customers.
- Tianqi Lithium: Chinese lithium producer with major Australian hard-rock (Greenbushes) and Chinese brine/conversion assets. Competes with Livent in battery-grade lithium compounds globally.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Livent social profiles
Digital presenceLivent financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Livent leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Livent funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Livent M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Livent
What does Livent do?
Livent fundamentally extracts lithium compounds from brine deposits in Argentina's Lithium Triangle and processes them into battery-grade materials, primarily lithium hydroxide, for use in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. The company operates brine-based extraction and processing operations in Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta provinces, with lower water usage and reduced surface disturbance compared to traditional hard rock mining. Livent also holds prelithiation technology intellectual property for next-generation silicon anode EV batteries.
Is Livent a public or private company?
Livent is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Livent founded?
Livent was founded in 2018. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Livent based?
Livent is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Livent make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Lithium compounds sales are the primary driver. The others are battery materials supply.
Who are Livent's main competitors?
Rio Tinto is listed as an others. Emerging players are Sigma Lithium, Piedmont Lithium and Lithium Americas. Direct peers are Pilbara Minerals, Mineral Resources Limited, Ganfeng Lithium, Albemarle, SQM and Tianqi Lithium.
Does Livent have an API?
No public API is recorded for Livent.
What industry is Livent in?
Livent's product category is Lithium Compounds Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAA, Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction, with a secondary code of EUAFABAA, Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite). Its SIC code is 1400.