Global and China Lithium Carbonate Industry Report, 2008-2010 (3rd Edition) Report-Research In China Post Your Message Lithium is the lightest metal and widely applied in the sectors such as battery, ceramics, glass, aluminum, lubricant and refrigerating agent, as well as the nuclear and photoelectric, and the lithium carbonate is the basic material for the production of lithium metal. By the end of 2008, the global lithium carbonate demand was 95,400 tons, up 2.9% year on year, and the CAGR for global lithium carbonate demand in the past ten years was over 7%. Chile, China and Argentina were the top three countries in terms of lithium carbonate production capacity, and they were together satisfied 94% of global lithium carbonate demand. Especially the China, its global market share increased to 26% in 2007 from 21% in 2006, but the figure declined to 24% in 2008 as a result of natural disasters.