Chile’s SQM (Sociediad Quimica y Minera) reported earnings for the first quarter of 2012 of $150m, an increase of 34.7% year on year.
The company attributed the increase to higher average prices across all business lines. It added that it expected growth of 20% in lithium-ion (li-ion) battery demand in 2012.
“We anticipate healthy growth for the lithium market in 2012, with battery demand potentially increasing by over 20%. As a result, our sales volumes for lithium and derivatives should increase over 10% and...