LG Energy Solution signs deal for 80,000 tons of lithium carbonate from US supplier

LG Energy Solution has signed a large-scale, long-term supply agreement with a US lithium developer, strengthening its grip on critical minerals in North America amid rapidly rising battery demand driven by growth in the energy storage system market.

LG Energy Solution said Tuesday it had signed a 10-year agreement with Smackover Lithium to supply a total of 80,000 tons of lithium carbonate — enough to produce about 1.8 million high-performance electric vehicles capable of traveling more than 500 kilometers on a single charge. Deliveries are set to begin in 2029, when Smackover Lithium starts full-scale production.

Smackover Lithium is a joint venture established by US lithium developer Standard Lithium and Norwegian state energy company Equinor. The company plans to produce high-quality lithium carbonate using direct lithium extraction technology at its Southwest Arkansas Project, a method designed to minimize carbon emissions.

The deal gives LG Energy Solution early access to lithium carbonate, a key raw material for batteries. Securing a local supply chain for cathode materials — including lithium iron phosphate — has become a pressing priority as the ESS market surges on the back of growing power demand across North America. Lithium carbonate is a primary input for both LFP and ternary batteries.

LG Energy Solution said it expects the US-based supply chain, built on DLE technology and eco-friendly production methods, to satisfy Inflation Reduction Act eligibility requirements while also improving supply chain stability and ESG competitiveness in the North American market.

The company currently operates eight production facilities in North America. The new agreement is expected to reinforce a fully integrated supply chain stretching from local raw material procurement to battery manufacturing.

Standard Lithium CEO David Park said he looks forward to building "a robust partnership in which both companies grow together by supplying American-made lithium carbonate to LG Energy Solution in a long-term and sustainable manner."

Lee Kang-yeol, executive vice president and head of LG Energy Solution's procurement center, called the deal "a meaningful achievement that secures eco-friendly critical minerals in the strategically important North American market, elevating supply chain stability." He added that the company will "continue to deliver more competitive and sustainable products through local US production and raw material sourcing."

LG Energy Solution has been building a stable raw material supply chain by expanding strategic partnerships with leading producers in major mineral-producing countries. The company previously signed a long-term agreement with Chilean lithium giant SQM for 100,000 tons of lithium hydroxide and carbonate, and struck a deal with Australia's Liontown Resources for 1.75 million tons of lithium concentrate, among other lithium supply arrangements.