Core Viewpoint - The lithium brine carbonate industry in China is experiencing significant growth, with the market size projected to increase from 18 billion yuan in 2020 to 52 billion yuan by 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.4% [2] Group 1: Industry Overview - Lithium carbonate is extracted from salt lake brine, which contains various halogen compounds, and the extraction process typically involves purification and concentration steps to achieve high purity lithium salts [3] - The main production methods for lithium carbonate in China include evaporation crystallization, precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion exchange adsorption, with precipitation being the most common due to its simplicity and efficiency [3] Group 2: Market Demand and Supply - The demand for lithium is driven by the booming electric vehicle industry and the rapid development of the energy storage sector, which has created a robust market for lithium as a key raw material for power batteries [2] - Although China has abundant lithium resources, the development of high-quality lithium ore faces challenges, leading to salt lake lithium extraction becoming an important supply source due to its cost advantages [2][6] - Recent technological innovations in salt lake lithium extraction have reduced production costs and improved efficiency, enhancing market competitiveness [2] Group 3: Industry Chain - The lithium brine carbonate industry chain consists of upstream salt lake brine, midstream production, and downstream applications, including glass manufacturing, ceramics, lithium-ion batteries, and metallurgy [9] - In the glass manufacturing sector, lithium carbonate is used to lower melting temperatures and enhance chemical stability, while in ceramics, it adjusts glaze expansion coefficients and thermal stability [9] Group 4: Resource Distribution - Major lithium brine resources in China are concentrated in Qinghai and Tibet, with Qinghai being the primary production area, particularly in the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture [11] - Other provinces with lithium brine resources include Gansu, Sichuan, and Xinjiang, with specific regions within these provinces hosting significant lithium deposits [11]