Lithium Argentina Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

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Lithium Argentina AG
Lithium Argentina AG

ZUG, Switzerland, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Argentina AG (“Lithium Argentina” or the “Company”) (TSX: LAR) (NYSE: LAR) today announced its first quarter 2025 results. Unless otherwise stated, results are presented in United States dollar.

Sam Pigott, Lithium Argentina’s President and CEO, commented:

First-quarter performance highlights our focus on cost discipline at Cauchari-Olaroz. The operation performed as expected, with planned maintenance and optimization activities – aimed at enhancing long-term performance and reliability - temporarily reducing in production volumes. During April, the operation returned to above 85% capacity and is now seeing the benefits of these efforts. We remain on track to meet our 2025 guidance of 30,000-35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate.

Unit cash operating costs1 remained competitive at approximately $6,634 per tonne, reinforcing our position as a low-cost producer. In the face of global uncertainty and ongoing price pressure, our focus remains on reducing costs and maintaining capital discipline.

Over the past 12 months, we have worked with Ganfeng to strengthen the balance sheet at Cauchari-Olaroz – extending maturities and ensuring we remain well capitalized through the current price cycle. At the same time, we have delivered operationally and advanced our growth pipeline to provide strategic and financial flexibility.  
        
Cauchari-Olaroz2

  • Production: Lithium carbonate production totaled 7,200 tonnes during the first quarter of 2025, representing a 15% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.

    • Production during the first quarter of 2025 was impacted by planned shutdowns aimed at further increasing recoveries and reducing costs.

  • Production Guidance: 2025 production guidance reaffirmed at 30,000 – 35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate, which reflects higher production volumes in the second half of the year.

    • In April 2025, following the planned shutdown, the operation produced at over 85% capacity.

  • Operating Costs: The cost of sales for the first quarter of 2025 was $54 million, with cash operating costs of $6,634 per tonne of lithium carbonate sold.

    • Costs during the first quarter of 2025 were slightly lower than expected with a portion of the maintenance costs deferred to the second quarter.

    • The operation continues to implement cost-optimization initiatives targeting a further 5 – 10% reduction in costs.

  • Pricing: Revenue for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $58 million, with an average realized price of approximately $8,085 per tonne of lithium carbonate sold.

    • Following the end of the first quarter of 2025, there has been continued downward pressure on lithium prices driven by ongoing global supply-demand dynamics and imbalances.