Arcadium Lithium

What Arcadium Lithium does

Arcadium Lithium plc is a vertically integrated global lithium chemicals producer formed in 2024 through the merger of Livent and Allkem, and acquired by Rio Tinto in March 2025 for approximately $6.7 billion — the largest M&A transaction in lithium market history. Following the acquisition, Rio Tinto became the third-largest lithium producer globally, with reserves and resources more than double those of Albemarle Corp. The company produces spodumene concentrate, lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium metal for sale primarily to EV manufacturers, battery cell producers, and next-generation solid-state battery developers.

The company's core technology spans brine-based lithium extraction from salt lake deposits in Argentina's Lithium Triangle (Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca, Rincon) and hard-rock spodumene mining and concentration in Western Australia and Quebec. Processing assets include a lithium hydroxide plant in Bécancour, Québec (Nemaska Lithium, 53.9% Rio Tinto / 46.1% Investissement Québec), the Whabouchi spodumene mine in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Nevada operations, and a lithium metal pilot facility in Ontario acquired from Li-Metal Corp. in August 2024 for $11 million. Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology is referenced for future Chile projects with ENAMI and Codelco, though commercial-scale deployment remains unproven.

Arcadium operates as a B2B commodity supplier with an enterprise field sales motion, selling directly to battery manufacturers and EV producers including Tesla. Revenue is generated through one-time sales contracts and long-term supply agreements for lithium compounds. Pricing follows volatile commodity markets: spodumene concentrate traded at approximately $840/tonne near multi-year lows in late 2025, down nearly 90% from the late-2022 peak. Production capacity is targeted at 61,000 metric tons in 2026, scaling to 200,000 metric tons by 2028 through expansion of Arcadium assets and new projects across four continents.

Name

Arcadium Lithium

Legal name

Arcadium Lithium plc

Website

https://arcadiumlithium.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Arcadium Lithium is a vertically integrated global lithium chemicals producer (spodumene, carbonate, hydroxide, metal) serving EV makers, battery cell producers, and solid-state battery developers across four continents, acquired by Rio Tinto for $6.7 billion in March 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lithium Chemicals and Battery Materials

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH)

Keywords

• Lithium compound production
• Spodumene concentrate mining
• Lithium hydroxide processing
• Battery-grade lithium chemicals
• Lithium brine extraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Buenos Aires

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lithium compound sales: Sale of processed lithium products including spodumene concentrate, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, and specialty lithium compounds to battery manufacturers and EV companies. Primary revenue driver for Arcadium and core strategic rationale for Rio Tinto's acquisition.
2. Lithium metal production: Following the acquisition of Li-Metal's lithium metal business, Arcadium produces lithium metal for next-generation battery anodes and specialized industrial applications, supported by a long-term supply agreement.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Arcadium Lithium produces lithium compounds including spodumene concentrate, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, and lithium metal from both brine sources (Argentina's Lithium Triangle) and hard rock deposits (Australia, Canada). The company supplies battery-grade lithium chemicals to electric vehicle manufacturers and battery cell producers globally, with mining and processing operations across four continents. Following its March 2025 acquisition by Rio Tinto, Arcadium operates as part of a vertically integrated lithium production platform serving the global energy transition.

Product overview

Arcadium Lithium is a lithium mining and production company created from the 2023 merger of Livent and Allkem. The company produces lithium products including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium metal, and spodumene concentrate across operations in Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Chile. In August 2024, Arcadium acquired Li-Metal Corp.'s lithium metal business for $11 million, including intellectual property and a pilot production facility in Ontario, Canada. The company was subsequently acquired by Rio Tinto in March 2025 for approximately $6.7 billion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spodumene Concentrate

Quantifiable outcome

• Third-largest global lithium producer with reserves and resources more than double Albemarle Corp.'s
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Li-Metal Corp.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Arcadium acquired Li-Metal's lithium metal business for $11 million including intellectual property, assets, and a long-term supply agreement, enhancing production capabilities for next-generation battery materials. The deal included a pilot production facility in Ontario, Canada.
• Investissement QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestissement Québec holds a 46.1% minority stake in Nemaska Lithium, with Rio Tinto holding 53.9% following the Arcadium acquisition. Rio Tinto plans to invest over US$300 million in 2026 in its Quebec lithium business. The Quebec government is expected to inject $200 million into the company.
• ENAMI (Chile)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRio Tinto signed binding agreement with Chile's state-owned mining company ENAMI to jointly develop the Salares Altoandinos lithium brine project. Rio Tinto leads design, construction, operation and sales, with parties sharing development equally.
• Codelco (Chile)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRio Tinto signed binding agreement with Chile's state-owned copper producer Codelco to jointly develop the Maricunga lithium brine project. Rio Tinto investing up to $900 million for just under half the project, leading design and construction with majority on technical committee before moving to 50-50 split once production begins. Project targets commissioning in the 2030s.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Albemarle Corporation: World's largest dedicated lithium producer, producing lithium carbonate, hydroxide, and spodumene from brine and hard rock assets. Directly competes with Arcadium/Rio Tinto for global battery-grade lithium offtake and EV supply contracts.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera): Major Chilean lithium brine producer with significant lithium carbonate and hydroxide capacity from Salar de Atacama. Directly comparable to Arcadium's Argentine brine footprint and competes for the same lithium chemical customer base.
• Ganfeng Lithium: One of China's largest vertically integrated lithium producers spanning resources, conversion chemicals, and batteries. Competes with Arcadium in global battery-grade lithium supply and has been acquiring upstream resource stakes worldwide.
• Tianqi Lithium: Chinese lithium chemicals producer with significant stakes in greenfield lithium assets and battery-grade hydroxide capacity. Competes directly with Arcadium in serving global EV and battery manufacturer supply agreements.
• Pilbara Minerals: Australian hard rock spodumene producer operating the Pilgangoora asset. Overlaps with Arcadium's Australian hard rock footprint (Mt Cattlin, Galaxy) and competes in spodumene concentrate and downstream conversion.
• Mineral Resources Limited: Australian hard rock lithium miner and toll-conversion operator via the Mt Marion joint venture. Comparable to Arcadium in spodumene mining and downstream processing for global battery customers.
• IGO Limited: Australian diversified miner with a significant stake in the Greenbushes lithium operation, the world's largest hard rock lithium mine. Competes with Arcadium's Australian hard rock assets for spodumene and downstream chemicals offtake.

Emerging players

• Lithium Americas: North and South American lithium developer with Thacker Pass (Nevada) and Cauchari-Olaroz (Argentina) assets. Directly comparable in geography, though earlier-stage and pre-commercial relative to Arcadium's production base.
• Piedmont Lithium: North American-focused lithium developer targeting spodumene and conversion capacity to serve the U.S. EV supply chain. Competes with Arcadium's Quebec/Nevada footprint in attracting IRA-aligned offtake partners.
• Standard Lithium: North American DLE technology developer with Arkansas and Smackover projects. Comparable to Arcadium's Maricunga DLE partnership as a competing pathway to commercial-scale lithium extraction from brine resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Allkemltd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RioTintoVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/arcadiumlithium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcadiumlithium
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifeatriotinto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A5 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arcadium Lithium