Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru have joined forces on lithium and copper cooperation—yet the declaration contains not a single word about production caps or quotas.
The classification system has shifted from three categories to four, with upstream slag-extracted lithium samples now included. Under the new methodology, inventory figures have jumped significantly, marking a departure from mere 'misunderstandings'.
Rio Tinto's chief executive for aluminium and lithium, Jérôme Pécresse, told Reuters that lithium will become the company's fastest-growing division, outpacing traditional mainstays such as copper and iron ore.