Are Falling Lithium Inventories Attracting Strategic Interest?

Lithium inventories have now declined for 30 consecutive weeks, EV demand is improving, and strategic interest in lithium assets is picking up. In this week’s Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein and Matt Fernley discuss lithium market fundamentals, Global Lithium’s takeover bid, renewed financing activity, Q2 Metals and Sigma Lithium, plus why copper deficit forecasts may be overstating the long-term supply gap.

The episode also covers SQM’s $3 billion Salar Futuro plan, rising mining costs, U.S. critical-minerals funding and the growing role of government capital in the sector.

Plus: stay tuned for a First Phosphate (CSE | NASDAQ: PHOS) update covering the company’s latest financing activity.

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The New York Times on TMC:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/climate/gerard-barron-metals-company-ocean-floor-mining.html

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Chapters

(00:00) Lithium Deals And Critical Minerals Capital(04:10) Q2 Metals Site Visit Highlights(07:11) Sigma Lithium’s Owner-Operator Journey(11:54) Global Lithium Takeout Tests Valuation(18:48) Lithium Financing Window Reopens(20:53) Weather And Diesel Raise Cost Risks(23:54) Higher Rates And AI Raise Costs(29:54) Copper Deficit Forecasts Face Scrutiny(32:46) Lithium Inventories Signal Stronger Demand(37:34) SQM Growth Faces Higher-Cost DLE(41:15) Government Capital Targets Critical Minerals(44:12) First Phosphate Update

Links

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