There¡¯s a fight brewing in the lithium market, after a controversial forecast from Goldman Sachs Group analysts set off a backlash among some of the industry¡¯s most prominent experts.
Lithium is a vital component of electric-vehicle batteries, which means the outlook for supply, demand and pricing is increasingly consequential. For years, a small group of niche consultants has dominated the conversation in a commodity that some say will become as important as oil in the coming century. Now, with prices surging and demand booming, they¡¯re increasingly sharing the stage with Wall Street titans like Goldman.
The bank made headlines when it warned that a searing rally in lithium will go into reverse this year as supply from unconventional new sources overwhelms demand. Credit Suisse Group also joined in predicting a correction. But specialists including London-based Benchmark Mineral Intelligence are loudly pushing back.
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