Bolivian lithium producer's sales hit 'historic record'

Bolivia’s state lithium producer YLB posted revenues of 555mn bolivianos (US$78mn) for 2022 from sales of lithium carbonate and potassium chloride.

The figure, up almost 200% from 2021, was described by President Luis Arce as "a historic record."

In 2022, YLB produced 600t of lithium carbonate, which was exported to China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates for a total of 367mn bolivianos, the company said in a statement.

YLB also sold around 55,000t of potassium chloride in the domestic and foreign markets last year, of which 33,500t went to Brazil, Chile, Peru, Malaysia and Paraguay. Revenues were 188mn bolivianos, the company said.

In 2023, YLB plans to enter the markets of India and other Asian countries, and increase revenues with the start-up of a US$115mn industrial-scale lithium carbonate plant, which is being built in Uyuni and will have capacity of 15,000t.

Bolivia has some of the world's largest lithium resources at some 21Mt, in the Uyuni salt flat.