Lithium carbonate imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
The United States imported $195.4 million of lithium carbonate in 2024 (15.6 thousand tonnes). It ranks 4th of 114 countries for imports of this product. Value fell 19% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 13% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $195.4M | 15.6K t |
| 2023 | $242.0M | 12.6K t |
| 2022 | $194.7M | 16.6K t |
| 2021 | $85.0M | 12.4K t |
| 2020 | $75.6M | 12.1K t |
| 2019 | $103.6M | 13.1K t |
| 2018 | $126.2M | 14.5K t |
| 2017 | $80.9M | 14.0K t |
Where the United States imports lithium carbonate from
One supplier dominates: Chile accounted for 57% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Chile | $111.5M | 57% |
| Argentina | $78.5M | 40% |
| Germany | $2.0M | 1% |
| United Kingdom | $1.0M | 0.5% |
| France | $931K | 0.5% |
| Belgium | $666K | 0.3% |
| China | $537K | 0.3% |
| South Korea | $136K | 0.1% |
| India | $39K | 0% |
| Taiwan | $12K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $12.54 per kg, close to the world average of $11.55.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Lithium carbonate exports from the United States
The United States exported $15.5 million of lithium carbonate in 2024 (530 tonnes). That makes it the 9th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 58 countries. Most of it went to Germany (43%), India (30%), Mexico (12%). Among the main buyer markets, Mexico grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $6.7M | 43% |
| India | $4.6M | 30% |
| Mexico | $1.9M | 12% |
| Netherlands | $626K | 4.1% |
| Israel | $294K | 1.9% |
| Canada | $271K | 1.8% |
| Taiwan | $132K | 0.9% |
| Austria | $129K | 0.8% |
| United Kingdom | $116K | 0.8% |
| Australia | $110K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States lithium carbonate imports (HS 2836.91): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2836.91: Carbonates: lithium carbonate.
Common questions
What is the value of lithium carbonate imported by the United States?
The United States imported lithium carbonate worth $195.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 15.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 114 countries worldwide, with 5% of world imports. The value was down 19% on 2023.
Which countries supply lithium carbonate to the United States?
Chile was the largest supplier with 57% of the value ($111.5 million), followed by Argentina (40%) and Germany (1%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 16 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 22% on the year.
What is the average import price of lithium carbonate per kg?
The average declared import value was about $12.54 per kg in 2024, 9% above the world average of $11.55 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of lithium carbonate to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $80.9 million in 2017 to $195.4 million in 2024, an increase of 142%. The peak was 2023 at $242.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $137.9 million a year.
Does the United States also export lithium carbonate?
Yes. The United States exported $15.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Germany, India and Mexico. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $179.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for lithium carbonate?
The HS code for lithium carbonate is subheading 2836.91. It sits in HS chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2836 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
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