How much lithium does Chile produce and export?
Chile is the 3rd largest producer of lithium: 56,000 tonnes in 2025, 19% of the world's 290,000 tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $2.8 billion in 2024, 73% of world exports of lithium carbonate (HS 283691) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 72% of its lithium exports by value.
All about lithium · All about Chile · Lithium price history
Chile's lithium production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 56,000 tonnes | 19% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
Chile's lithium exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.8 billion | 73% | 241,854 t | $11,627 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 283691 (Lithium carbonate).
Where Chile's lithium goes
| Destination | Value | Share of Chile's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.0B | 72% |
| South Korea | $319M | 11% |
| United States | $111M | 4% |
| Japan | $108M | 3.8% |
| Netherlands | $99M | 3.5% |
The lithium price Chile sells into
The benchmark price, Lithium metal, 99% battery grade, was $148,620/t in August 2026, up 82% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Lithium price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Chile lithium: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHL/lithium/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.