Spodumene is the lithium-bearing mineral mined in hard-rock (pegmatite) deposits in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Zimbabwe, Mali and elsewhere. Mines concentrate the ore to about 6% Li2O (“SC6”) and sell it to converters, mostly in China, that turn it into lithium carbonate or hydroxide.
Spodumene price: recent levels
| Benchmark | Level | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC6, FOB Australia | US$2,254/t (range US$2,205–2,302) | 2 Sep 2026 | Benchmark |
| SC6 | US$2,000/t | 10 Aug 2026 | Benchmark |
| Spot sales | Above US$2,200/t | 13 Jan 2026 | Argonaut |
| SC6, FOB Australia | ~US$800/t (Jan) to ~US$970/t (Nov) | 2025 | USGS |
| SC6, FOB Australia | ~US$1,250/t (Jan) to ~US$730/t (Nov) | 2024 | USGS |
How spodumene is priced
- Index-linked contracts: most offtake agreements price off spodumene or lithium chemical assessments (Fastmarkets, Benchmark, Platts), often averaged over a month or quarter.
- Auctions: some producers, notably PLS Group (formerly Pilbara Minerals), sell cargoes through online auctions that act as price discovery events.
- Futures: exchanges list cash-settled spodumene contracts, for example ICE’s Spodumene FOB Australia (BMI) future.
Why spodumene is cheaper than lithium carbonate
One tonne of SC6 contains only about 0.148 t of lithium carbonate equivalent, and turning it into battery chemicals requires roasting at around 1,000°C, acid leaching and purification. So spodumene at about US$2,250/t and carbonate at about US$19,750/t are consistent with each other once conversion costs and margins are included. Conversion factors: lithium price per ton.
Main spodumene producers
Western Australia hosts the largest operations: Greenbushes (Talison, owned by Albemarle and a Tianqi/IGO joint venture), Pilgangoora (PLS Group), Wodgina and Mt Marion (Mineral Resources with Albemarle and Ganfeng respectively), Mt Holland (SQM and Wesfarmers) and Kathleen Valley (Liontown). See Australian lithium mining and lithium producers.
Lithium is not traded on a single public exchange like gold or oil. The figures on this site are dated reference points from the publishers named in each source list; they are not live quotes and are not investment advice. Paid price-reporting agencies (Fastmarkets, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, S&P Global Platts, SMM) publish the assessments the industry actually trades on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spodumene price today?
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence assessed 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate at US$2,254 per tonne FOB Australia on 2 September 2026, within a range of US$2,205 to US$2,302; an auction reported after the assessment cleared at US$2,277 per tonne.
What does SC6 mean?
SC6 is spodumene concentrate containing 6% lithium oxide (Li2O), the industry's standard reference grade. Lower grades such as SC5.5 are normally priced at a discount, roughly in proportion to their lithium content plus penalties for higher processing cost.
Why did spodumene prices rise in 2026?
Spodumene follows lithium chemical prices with leverage. As Chinese lithium carbonate rallied, spot spodumene rose above US$2,000 per tonne by mid-January 2026, up about 60% in a month according to Argonaut, from below US$1,000 per tonne for most of 2025.
Sources
- Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, lithium prices page (assessment of 2 September 2026)
- Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, “Lithium Price Watch: What the Forward Curve Is Telling Buyers Now” (prices as of 10 August 2026)
- Argonaut, “Spodumene surges beyond US$2,000/t” (13 January 2026)
- USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lithium (February 2026)
- USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: Lithium
- ICE, Spodumene FOB Australia (BMI) Future