ASX lithium shares are surging across the board on Monday following a sharp drawdown in recent weeks.
ASX 200 lithium heavyweights Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE), Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) are up 4.45%, 6.28% and 3.28% respectively.
Emerging players such as Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL) and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) are trading a respective 7.76% and 1.56% higher.
Explorers such as Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) and Charger Metals NL (ASX: CHR) are also catching bids, up 4.71%, 7.27% and 5.35% respectively.
What's driving ASX lithium shares higher?
Elevated lithium demand and spot prices
Higher lithium prices continue to support the bullish performance of ASX lithium shares.
In Orocobre's FY21 full-year results, the company highlighted an average realised price of US$8,476/tonne for its lithium carbonate, up 45% quarter-on-quarter and 117% on the prior corresponding period (pcp).
Within the results' presentation, Orocobre pointed to growth drivers such as the electric vehicle industry which is forecast to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20-30% for the next decade.
Orocobre reported global electric vehicle sales of 2.65 million units in June year-to-date, up 168% on the pcp, with Europe and China leading the growth.
The company also pointed at broader themes at play such as global carbon emission targets and penalties, accommodative government regulations and subsidies, and increasing electric vehicle models by vehicle manufacturers.
A return to profitability
Higher lithium prices are helping large established producers return to profitability, with China's Tianqi Lithium Corp, one of the world's largest lithium producers, posting its first net profit in two years.
The lithium giant reported net income of 85.8 million yuan (~A$18.2 million) for the first half of 2021 compared to a loss of 696.6 million yuan (~A$147 million) a year earlier.
