Plant Reaches 80% Capacity as Ramp-Up Advances

Eramet’s Argentina lithium plant reached about 80% of its designed capacity in March, marking an important recovery for the Centenario-Ratones lithium carbonate project after production setbacks earlier in the year.

Centenario-Ratones Recovers After February Disruption

The Centenario-Ratones plant, Eramet’s only lithium operation, operated at an average rate near 80% of its 24,000 tonnes per year nameplate capacity in March. The improvement followed a difficult February, when Eramet shut part of its downstream equipment for an extended period to introduce design improvements and support the ramp-up process.

Natural gas supply constraints also limited output during the first quarter, keeping total production to 3,720 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. Despite those challenges, March delivered the project’s strongest production performance so far, showing that the plant is moving closer to stable commercial operation.

Lithium Sales Already Surpass 2025 Revenue

Eramet sold 3,920 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in the first quarter, generating €57 million, or about $66.5 million, in revenue. That implies an average realized price of roughly $16,986 per tonne.

The first-quarter lithium revenue already exceeded Eramet’s total lithium revenue for all of 2025. This reflects not only higher production volumes from the Argentina plant but also the stronger pricing environment for lithium carbonate, a key battery material used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Argentina Lithium Supply Remains Strategically Important

Argentina remains one of the most closely watched lithium supply regions because of its large brine resources and growing role in the battery materials supply chain. The progress at Centenario-Ratones adds new supply at a time when battery makers, automakers and traders continue to monitor lithium carbonate availability, project delays and regional energy constraints.

Eramet expects the ramp-up to be completed by July at the latest, according to a source familiar with the matter. If achieved, that would place Centenario-Ratones among the more important new lithium carbonate supply additions in Argentina’s growing lithium sector.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary

Eramet’s March performance matters because lithium projects often face delays during the transition from commissioning to steady output. Reaching 80% capacity suggests Centenario-Ratones is moving beyond early-stage instability, but gas supply reliability and downstream equipment performance remain key factors to watch as the plant approaches full ramp-up.