Lithium manufacturer SQM is planning to open operations in a fourth country, Bloomberg reports, to add to existing operations in Chile and projects in Argentina and China. That’s as a response to growing demand for lithium carbonate and hydroxide for battery manufacturing, particularly in automotive applications.

Panjiva data shows that exports from Chile, led by SQM, have plateaued in the past year with a 3.9% rise in the 12 months to October 31 despite an 11.7% surge in the past three months. Buyers in China, South Korea and Japan have become increasingly aggressive in securing supplies, with their imports from Chile having expanded by 23.7%, 33.1% and 36.0% respectively in the past three months. That’s left U.S. (down 25.1%) and European (off 31.5%) buyers out of the market. Indeed U.S. supplies reached their lowest since July 2009 in October.

Chart segments Chilean exports of lithium carbonate and dioxide by destination market. Source: Panjiva

That has also left U.S. buyers more dependent on supplies from Argentina – including those from FMC – though even these have nearly dried up more recently.

Chart segments U.S. seaborne imports of lithium carbonate and dioxide by country of origin. Source: Panjiva