Lithium production during the three months under review reached 2 352 t, down from the 2 511 t produced in the previous corresponding period, while sales volumes for the quarter was up by 112% quarter on quarter to 3 393 t.
Sales revenue for the same period was up by 68% to $10.5-million following the sale of excess inventory, while the average sales price achieve during the quarter was down 21% due to a strategic marketing decision to reduce excess inventory during July, significant market softness relating to Covid-19, and continued aggressive competitor pricing.
The ASX- and TSX-listed Orocobre told shareholders that lithium pricing appears to have reached a bottom, with realised prices for the second quarter expected to be higher than those achieved in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the miner told shareholders that work on the Stage 2 expansion of the Olaroz project, in Argentina, continued during the quarter with a reduced workforce, with construction work at the end of the quarter achieving 43.8% completion.
Capital expenditure on the project at the end of the quarter reached $159-million.
The Stage 2 expansion project is expected to start production in 2023, ramping up to full capacity of 25 000 t/y of industrial-grade lithium carbonate by 2026.