https://newsletter.mw.creamermedia.com
Business|Energy|Flow|PROJECT|Projects|Refinery|Storage|Flow|Operations
Business|Energy|Flow|PROJECT|Projects|Refinery|Storage|Flow|Operations
business|energy|flow-company|project|projects|refinery|storage|flow-industry-term|operations

Albemarle posts surprise second-quarter profit on lithium demand; shares surge

The Kings Mountain mine

The Kings Mountain mine

31st July 2025

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

Albemarle, the world's largest producer of lithium for rechargeable batteries, posted a surprise second-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by sustained demand for the metal, sending its shares up over 6% after the bell.

Lithium's use in electric vehicles, large-scale battery storage and other electronic applications has grown rapidly, with demand up 24% last year and likely to grow 12% annually for the next decade, according to data from consultancy Fastmarkets.

Albemarle said its net sales came in at $1.33-billion during the quarter, 7% lower than last year but still above analysts' expectations of $1.22-billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Its revenue fell year-over-year as a result of lower pricing, which was offset by volume growth in its energy storage and specialties business segments.

Lithium prices have fallen more than 90% in the past two years due in part to oversupply in China, fueling layoffs, corporate buyouts and project delays across the globe.

To weather the pricing glut, Albemarle has taken measures such as job cuts and cancelling expansion projects - including a key US lithium refinery.

Earlier this year, Albemarle launched a "comprehensive review of its cost and operating structure," which is expected to be completed by October.

The company on Wednesday lowered its annual capital expenditure plan to be in the range of $650-million to $750 million, compared with its prior view of $700-million to $800-million.

Albemarle's cash from operations rose to $538-million during the first half of the year and it now expects to generate positive free cash flow (FCF) in 2025.

Scotiabank analyst Ben Isaacson said that while the market would respond favorably to the FCF outlook, there could be downward revisions to the 2026 forecast as Albemarle's long-term agreements begin to expire.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company reported quarterly adjusted profit of 11 cents per share, compared with expectations of a loss of 82 cents per share.

Edited by Reuters

Comments

Showroom

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

The SAIMM started as a learned society in 1894 after the invention of the cyanide process that saved the South African gold mining industry of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
John Thompson
John Thompson

John Thompson, the leader in energy and environmental solutions through value engineering and innovation, provides the following: design, engineer,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Resources Watch
Resources Watch
30th July 2025

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.127 0.207s - 146pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now