Four of the fastest rising 10 stocks on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today are lithium shares.

The best performer is diversified miner Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), up 6.1% to $62.97 per share.

Next is lithium and nickel producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), up 5.7% to $9.23 per share.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is 5.3% higher on Friday at $2.18.

The market's largest pure-play lithium company, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), cracked a new record at $6.14 today.

The PLS Group share price is currently $6.01, up 5.3%.

Among the smaller players outside the ASX 200, Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) shares hit a 52-week high of $10.39.

The Elevra Lithium share price is currently $10.31, up 11.9%.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are up 9.4% to 37 cents apiece.

Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) shares are 7.6% higher at 9.9 cents.

What's driving ASX lithium shares higher?

Experts say the Iran war and ensuing global oil shock are reminding us of the value of electric vehicles (EV).

The lithium carbonate price has risen 9% this week and is up 43% year to date (YTD), according to Trading Economics data.

Analysts at Trading Economics say lithium prices are rising on a bullish future outlook.

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD announced it expects to sell more EVs this year due to the oil shock.

BYD has raised its 2026 sales forecast to 1.5 million units, up from the January estimate of 1.3 million units.

The analysts said:

The surge in crude oil and product prices since the start of March supported the outlook for larger economies to favor new energy vehicles, which use batteries that take lithium as a major input.

Demand also remained supported by Chinese investment in power infrastructure, recently exemplified by the announcement of higher power storage spending.

This was combined with Beijing stating it would double national EV charging capacity to 180 gigawatts by 2027, supporting lithium-rich energy storage systems.

In the meantime, Zimbabwe suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other raw materials to stimulate refining in the country.

Oil shock a tailwind for lithium prices

Lithium prices were already rebounding from a painful two-year downward spiral before the war in Iran began.

We have seen a rapid turnaround in lithium prices from mid-2025.

Supply/demand rebalanced after a long period of oversupply last year.

We also saw the impact of the green energy transition finally bleed through to markets in 2025.

Other commodity prices joined lithium in an upward surge in 2025 as the world began building new power infrastructure at scale.

The lithium carbonate price lifted to a two-year high of about US$26,200 per tonne in January.

It endured a short, sharp fall to just below US$20,000 in early February as part of a broader metals and minerals rout.

Today, the lithium carbonate price is US$24,850, representing a 43% year-to-date gain.

Lithium spodumene is up from about US$600 per tonne in June 2025 to US$2,415 per tonne today.

The post ASX lithium shares rally as oil shock highlights EV appeal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In afternoon trade, the Core Lithium share price is up 8.07% to 33.5 cents after earlier touching 35 cents. That leaves the stock just below its January multi-year high of 36 cents.

The move extends what has already been a remarkable rebound, with the shares up 45% over the past month and an eye-catching 415% over 12 months.

With the stock back near its highs, buying interest is building around the Finniss restart.

Here's what is supporting the latest move.

Finniss restart momentum keeps building

The main catalyst remains continued progress toward restarting the Finniss lithium project in the Northern Territory.

Recent updates show Core has moved beyond outlining a restart and into active execution.

The company recently reached final investment decision (FID) on the Finniss restart, with work expected to commence within weeks and first ore from the Grants deposit targeted shortly after.

The move from study work to on-site activity appears to be giving investors more confidence in the restart.

The Grants open pit offers a faster and lower-risk route back into production, while BP33 underground development continues alongside it. The staged restart lowers upfront risk while preserving the longer-term mine life opportunity.

A recent stockpile sale agreement with Glencore has also supported liquidity and helped re-establish logistics through Darwin Port. This is yet again another sign that the restart is edging closer to production.

Lithium prices are adding fuel

The commodity backdrop is also doing plenty of the heavy lifting.

Lithium carbonate prices in China have risen to around CNY 167,500 per tonne, up more than 134% over the past year.

Higher lithium prices improve the earnings outlook for Core Lithium because Finniss was one of the first Australian lithium operations to shut during the downturn.

As battery material sentiment improves, investors are now returning to lithium stocks with restart potential.

Foolish Takeaway

I think today's move reflects growing confidence that Finniss is getting closer to generating cash again.

The mix of higher lithium prices, restart progress, and the stock trading just below its January high is keeping momentum with Core Lithium.

After a 415% gain over 12 months, the easy re-rating has likely already played out.

The next move likely depends on whether management can deliver the restart on time into supportive lithium prices.

If those milestones keep landing, a move through 36 cents and into a fresh multi-year high looks very achievable.

The post This ASX lithium rocket is closing in on a multi-year breakout again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early trade, the Core Lithium share price is up 5.88% to 27 cents.

The gain comes after the lithium miner confirmed that open-pit mining at its Grants deposit will begin immediately, marking the first stage of the Finniss Lithium Project restart.

Core Lithium remains one of the ASX's strongest recovery stories, with its share price still up 347% over the past 12 months.

The positive move suggests investors are continuing to back the Finniss restart timeline as the company shifts from planning into execution.

Mining restart moves from plan to execution

According to the release, Core Lithium has awarded the surface mining contract for the Grants open pit to NRW Pty Ltd.

Mobilisation is set to begin immediately.

The contract covers all key mining activities required to deliver ore to the Grants run-of-mine pad.

Management said this is a key first step in the restart of mining operations at Finniss following last month's final investment decision (FID).

The company expects the optimised Grants pit design to provide access to about 784kt of ore, which is forecast to produce roughly 134kt of SC6 spodumene concentrate over a short timeframe.

Ore from Grants is scheduled to be processed and hauled during the September quarter. First spodumene concentrate shipments are targeted for early in the December quarter.

This near-term production profile may be appealing to investors because it gives Core Lithium a pathway back to revenue using existing infrastructure and relatively low upfront capital.

Why the market is backing the Finniss restart

While the update supports the Finniss restart, today's share price gain suggests investors are responding positively to the move into active mining works.

The company approved the Finniss restart less than 3 weeks ago. That decision followed a funding package of more than $300 million across debt, equity, and strategic support.

With funding secured, investors now turn to whether Core Lithium can meet production and shipment targets through the second half of 2026.

Execution remains the next key focus, with mobilisation, processing readiness, and lithium pricing all likely to influence whether the rally can continue.

Foolish Takeaway

Today's announcement moves Core Lithium another step closer to turning its Finniss restart strategy into cash flow.

After a 347% gain over the past year, today's rise suggests investors remain confident in the company's near-term production pathway.

The next major catalyst is likely to be first ore movement and confirmation that September quarter processing remains on schedule.

The post Why this ASX lithium stock is charging higher after a major breakthrough appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX mining shares have been the worst hit by the war in Iran, with the materials sector losing 15.3% of its value since the conflict began.

Some investors took profits this month after a strong run for ASX 200 mining shares, amid fears that higher diesel prices and potential shortages could hurt earnings and production for 2H FY26.

ASX 200 mining shares have also declined alongside metals prices, with gold down 17%, silver down 22%, lithium carbonate down 8%, and copper down 7% over the month. Iron ore has demonstrated resilience, rising 7% over the period to US$106 per tonne on Friday.

With the US and Iran still negotiating a 15-point plan for peace, it is hoped this war and the ensuing global oil shock will be over soon.

This may have motivated some investors to take up new or enhanced positions in ASX 200 mining shares last week, given the bright long-term outlook for the sector and the opportunity to buy the dip.

Reflecting the miners' fightback last week, the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) rose 4.4% while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained 1% to finish at 8,516.3 points.

Seven of the 11 market sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's recap.

ASX 200 mining shares fight back

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price increased 6.1% to close at $50.37 on Friday.

BHP shares reached a record $59.39 on 3 March before the war prompted investors to take profits.

Despite last week's rebound, the ASX 200's largest mining stock remains 13.8% lower over 30 days.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares lifted 4.3% to $153.23 last week, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) gained 6.5% to $20.19.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price soared 9.7% to $56.69.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares increased 1.3% to $4.03 per share.

ASX 200 copper share Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) lifted 1.8% to $15.88, while Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) edged 0.6% lower to $10.14.

ASX 200 lithium shares had a ripsnorter of a week, with PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) rocketing 21.8% to close at $5.15 on Friday.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price soared 20.9% to $1.77, and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) gained 11.9% to 24 cents.

Nickel and lithium producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) lifted 16.5% to $7.93 per share.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares closed the week 2.7% higher at $10.08 apiece.

Bauxite and alumina producer Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) lifted 3.5% to $85.95 per share.

What about ASX gold shares?

The market's largest ASX 200 gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose 0.3% to close at $18.55 on Friday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price lifted 0.4% to $12.46, and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) rose 3.1% to $146.85.

Among the mid-caps, Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares lifted 2.1% to $3.96, and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) rose 1.1% to $6.26.

Gold and copper miner, Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) fell 3.5% to $9.76.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 mining shares rebound after March sell-off creates opportunities appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is down 3.5% to $9.32. This has been driven by a combination of broad market weakness and the infant formula company's shares going ex-dividend today. Last month, A2 Milk released its half-year results and declared a fully franked 8.3 cents per share interim dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this payout in a couple of weeks on 2 April.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP Trust share price is down 4% to $3.64. The catalyst for this appears to have been a broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the Bunning Warehouse-focused property company's shares to a neutral rating (from buy) with a reduced price target of $3.89. UBS highlights that the last time there was an energy crisis (the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict), Australian REITs sank deep into the red as interest rates rose.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is down 6% to 20.7 cents. Investors have been selling the lithium miner's shares following broad weakness in the mining sector and the completion of its $120 million institutional placement. Those funds were raised at a 4.5% discount of 21 cents per new share and will be used to restart the Finniss Lithium Project this year. Core Lithium's managing director, Paul Brown, said: "The strong support we have received through this equity raising is a clear endorsement of Core's restart strategy and the long-term value of the Finniss Operation. Combined with the strategic funding from Glencore, InfraVia and Nebari, this places Core in a fully funded position to execute the restart in line with the FID."

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont share price is down 5.5% to $146.51. This follows a sizeable pullback in the gold price overnight after the US Federal Reserve kept rates on hold. It appears that traders were hoping for a rate cut, which would be supportive of the safe haven asset, but rising oil prices have seemingly ruled that out. It isn't just Newmont that is falling today. The gold industry is a sea of red, with the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index down 8% at the time of writing.

The post Why A2 Milk, BWP, Core Lithium, and Newmont shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the lithium miner's shares are down 4.5% to 21 cents.

Why are Core Lithium shares falling?

The company's shares are falling today after it completed a $120 million institutional placement at a modest 4.5% discount of 21 cents per new share.

Management notes that the Placement was strongly supported by a number of new and existing high‑quality institutional, sophisticated, and professional investors.

This complements a US$120 million (A$170 million) strategic funding from Glencore Australia, InfraVia, and the Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund.

Why is it raising funds?

On Wednesday, Core Lithium announced a positive final investment decision (FID) for the restart of the Finniss Lithium Project.

It notes that this followed the completion of a comprehensive restart plan, updated mine planning, Front-End Engineering and Design work, and refined operating strategies to reposition Finniss as a lower‑cost, long‑life lithium operation.

The company advised that the board approval reflects the improved economic metrics of the restart, as well as confidence in delivering sustained production supported by a de-risked execution plan.

The combined funding package allows Core Lithium to immediately commence mobilisation, early works, and BP33 development.

First concentrate production is expected during the September quarter of 2026.

Compelling economics

It isn't hard to see why the FID was positive.

Core Lithium revealed that the project delivers compelling economics, with a pre‑tax net present value of A$1.1 billion and free cash flow generation of A$1.7 billion.

This is being underpinned by competitive unit operating costs of A$762 per tonne and a conservative long‑term spodumene concentrate price assumption of US$1,500 per tonne. This compares to the current spot price of ~US$2,200 per tonne.

Commenting on institutional placement and its restart, Core Lithium's managing director, Paul Brown, said:

The strong support we have received through this equity raising is a clear endorsement of Core's restart strategy and the long-term value of the Finniss Operation. Combined with the strategic funding from Glencore, InfraVia and Nebari, this places Core in a fully funded position to execute the restart in line with the FID.

This outcome reflects the confidence investors have in our disciplined planning, improved project economics and the capability of our team to deliver a safe, staged and efficient return to production. With funding now secured, we can move immediately into mobilisation, early works and development activities to position Finniss for first concentrate production in the September quarter of 2026.

The post Core Lithium shares tumble after $120m capital raising for Finniss restart appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to sink

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 138 points or 1.6% lower this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 1.7%, the S&P 500 is down 1.3% and the Nasdaq is 1.4% lower.

Core Lithium shares on watch

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares will be on watch on Thursday. That's because the lithium miner has raised $120 million to support the restart of the Finniss Lithium Project. The company notes that the restart repositions Finniss as a lower cost, long-life, brownfield lithium operation with a shorter path to nameplate production of 214ktpa. Unit operating costs are expected to be A$762 per tonne. This compares favourably to the current spodumene concentrate spot price of US$2,200 per tonne.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$97.88 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5.3% to US$108.89 a barrel. Oil prices charged higher after Iran threatened to strike oil facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes infant formula company A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M), hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), transport services provider Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS), telco Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK), and coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL). The latter will be paying its shareholders a fully franked 12.2 cents per share dividend next month on 15 April.

Gold price sinks

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Thursday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 3.1% to US$4,853.3 an ounce. Traders were selling the precious metal after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The freeze follows an announcement outlining a major funding package to restart operations at the company's Finniss lithium project.

Before the halt, Core Lithium shares last traded at 22 cents. The stock is down about 20% in 2026, though it has gained roughly 13% over the past month.

Here's what the company announced.

Core Lithium approves Finniss restart

Core Lithium confirmed it has made a Final Investment Decision (FID) to restart mining and processing at its Finniss Lithium Operation.

The restart will be supported by a funding package that includes convertible notes, a senior secured loan, and a large equity raising.

The company said the decision follows completion of an updated restart study for the project.

According to the study, Finniss is expected to generate pre-tax net present value of $1.10 billion and post-tax NPV of $837 million.

The project is forecast to deliver an internal rate of return of 76.5% and a payback period of around 3 years.

Core Lithium also estimates the operation could generate approximately $1.7 billion in cash flow over its life.

Funding package to restart the project

To support the restart, Core Lithium has secured a funding package worth roughly US$170 million plus A$120 million in equity.

The funding structure includes:

• US$70 million in convertible notes provided by Glencore and InfraVia

• US$50 million senior secured loan facility from Nebari

• A$120 million equity placement to institutional investors

The placement will be conducted at 21 cents per share, representing a 4.5% discount to the company's last closing price of 22 cents.

The equity raising is split into two parts:

• $53.3 million unconditional placement

• $66.7 million conditional placement, subject to shareholder approval

In total, Core Lithium plans to issue up to 571.4 million new shares under the placement.

Production timeline and project details

The Finniss restart is expected to begin mobilisation during the June quarter of 2026.

Core Lithium said the operation is targeting first spodumene concentrate shipments in the second-half of 2026.

Initial production will come from the Grants open pit, while development continues at the BP33 underground deposit.

The BP33 deposit is expected to deliver first ore around mid-2027, with the operation reaching full production in 2028.

Once fully operational, the Finniss plant is expected to process about 1.2 million tonnes of ore per year and produce roughly 214,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate each year.

Core Lithium estimates operating costs of around US$533 per tonne, with EBITDA margins of about 48%.

What happens next?

Core Lithium said the trading halt will remain in place until it makes an announcement in relation to the capital raising or until Friday 20 March, whichever occurs first.

Attention now turns to further details once the company releases its next update later this week.

The post Why this ASX lithium stock requested a trading halt today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A rebound in lithium carbonate prices and improving sentiment across the battery materials space appear to be driving renewed buying interest.

Here are 3 lithium stocks that are going gangbusters today.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is up 8.95% to $1.978 in late afternoon trade.

That takes its gain to roughly 16% over the past week, marking an impressive short-term recovery for the Kathleen Valley developer.

Liontown is one of the ASX's largest pure-play lithium names, with its flagship Kathleen Valley project in Western Australia moving toward production. After a volatile 2025, investors appear to be repositioning as lithium prices show signs of stabilising.

Spot lithium carbonate prices in China have rebounded sharply in recent weeks, climbing back above CNY 150,000 per tonne. While still well below the 2022 highs, the recovery has been enough to reignite optimism across the sector.

With a market capitalisation of $6.26 billion and significant institutional support, Liontown is widely regarded as a key indicator of lithium sector sentiment on the ASX.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

Core Lithium shares are also enjoying a strong session.

The Core Lithium share price is up 6.52% to 24.5 cents, extending its weekly gain to approximately 25%.

Core owns the Finniss Lithium Operation near Darwin. After facing operational and pricing headwinds during the lithium downturn, the company has been focused on cost management and balance sheet strength.

As lithium prices recover, Core's share price can move more aggressively as sentiment improves. And on the back of this, investors appear to be rotating back into smaller-cap lithium stocks as confidence builds around a potential sector recovery.

Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE)

Rounding out the trio is Lake Resources.

The Lake Resources share price is up 7.90% today. Over the past week, shares have surged around 21%.

Lake is developing the Kachi Lithium Project in Argentina and has positioned itself as a direct lithium extraction hopeful. Like many pre-production developers, its share price has been highly sensitive to changes in lithium pricing and investor risk appetite.

While the project remains in development, improving sector sentiment is clearly driving strong short-term share price momentum.

Why lithium shares are moving

The common factor behind today's gains is lithium pricing.

After falling sharply through 2023 and 2024, lithium carbonate prices have rebounded in early 2026. Improving electric vehicle demand expectations, policy support in China, and supply discipline from producers have contributed to the recovery.

Lithium shares tend to respond quickly to changes in pricing, particularly among producers and developers with higher exposure to spot markets.

If prices continue to stabilise or move higher, sentiment across the sector could remain supportive in the near term.

The post Why these 3 ASX lithium shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

How impressive?

Well, over the past 12 months, the ASX 200 has gained a respectable 6.6%.

Despite the past month's retrace, however, ASX 200 lithium shares have left those gains wanting.

Here's how these leading Aussie miners have performed over the last full year:

• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares have gained 72.1%
• Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have gained 191.2%
• Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) – formerly Pilbara Minerals – shares have gained 108.0%
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares have gained 88.6%

And though it was booted from the ASX 200 after its market cap crashed in 2023 and 2024, we'll give a nod to Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares as well, up 133.3% in 12 months.

The common thread helping all of these miners smash the benchmark returns is the surging global lithium price.

Over the past eight months, spodumene (a lithium bearing ore) prices have rocketed more than 200% amid expectations of strong demand and reduced supply from China. Spodumene was recently trading near US$2,000 per tonne, up from around US$600 per tonne last June.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Can these rocketing ASX 200 lithium shares keep charging higher?

If you're looking at buying shares in the likes of PLS, Liontown, Mineral Resources, or IGO, then you should expect your future returns to be heavily impacted by the going price of lithium.

So, will these surging ASX 200 lithium shares continue to enjoy a rebound in the price of the battery-critical metal?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

On the bullish side, UBS recently increased its lithium price outlook by 74% after reviewing expected demand from global EV markets and energy storage demand.

The broker forecasts a 14% increase in global lithium demand in 2026 with another 16% increase in 2027. In light of this, UBS expects the spodumene price to reach US$3,131 per tonne. That's up from UBS' prior forecast of US$1,800 per tonne, and more than 50% above current levels.

On the more bearish side of the equation, Vivek Dhar, commodities analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), noted that global miners have the potential to add a significant amount of lithium supply to markets amid higher lithium prices.

According to Dhar (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

Despite these solid demand forecasts, it's hard to believe that lithium prices can keep going, especially like it did in 2022, given the latent supply that can come online due to higher lithium prices.

ECP Asset Management partner Andrew Dale also believes the biggest gains from ASX 200 lithium shares like Liontown, PLS, and Mineral Resources have probably already been delivered.

"There is a lot of appetite among investors to get exposure to hard assets like lithium, iron ore and gold," Dale said.

He added:

The outlook for these resources remains strong; however, for investors who are currently underweight … the ship has probably already sailed, as the price for these resources is on the higher end.

The post Is it too late to buy surging ASX 200 lithium shares like PLS and Liontown? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The analyst team at UBS noted that prices of lithium have been strong, rallying 65% since their last update, but they said there would be continued strong demand from the electric vehicle sector, with EVs close to reaching so-called "triple parity".

This meant that EVs were becoming competitive across cost, range, and charging time when compared with traditional internal combustion engines.

The UBS team said it expects lithium demand to increase 14% in 2026 and 16% in 2027.

They said further:

We continue to be positive long-term and see demand volumes 2x by 2030 to 3.4Mt (vs 1.7Mt in 2025e). We see the market growing at a 13% CAGR through to 2035.

UBS is expecting EV sales to reaccelerate over the medium term, and it expects global EV penetration of 58% by 2035.

With regard to battery energy storage systems (BESS), UBS said new policy moves in China led it to upgrade its 2035 outlook by 30% to 53%.

Supply not meeting demand

On the supply side, UBS said primary supply grew at 18% in 2025, or closer to 23% once recycling was factored in, which was short of demand growth of 29%.

UBS added:

This resulted in a market deficit and inventory drawdown through the year. For 2026, we assess risk-weighted supply as likely to grow by about 14% (excluding recycling). By country, China, Australia, Argentina and Zimbabwe lead the pack for growth in risk weighted supply from 2025 to 2027.

On the price front, UBS has upgraded its price outlook by 74%.

The broker said:

We are wary of the difficulties of picking a suitable price level when spot prices have historically been more than eight times higher than long-term incentive prices and with converter margins historically poor in providing guard rails around reasonable feedstock pricing. However, from a qualitative perspective, we note that our current price forecasts remain well within historical range and note i) for EVs, automakers have previously been able to adapt with modest impacts on overall demand, and ii) for BESS, that material costs are less significant (vs. module/battery costs).

UBS now has a forecast spodumene price of US$3,131 per tonne, up from its previous price target of US$1,800.

The forecast will be good news for Australian companies such as IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), with the latter looking to bring its Finniss operations in the Northern Territory back online if lithium prices are high enough.

The post The lithium price could increase by how much! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Benchmark spodumene prices are breaking levels not seen in years, and Australian lithium stocks are moving fast in response.

ASX lithium shares like Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) have all ripped to fresh 52-week highs as the market begins to price in a new demand-driven cycle.

Investors are starting to believe the brutal 2023–24 bear market is finally in the rear-view mirror. But can the lithium rally be sustained?

Liontown Resources

This ASX lithium share is the comeback story. Written off during the downturn, the company has re-emerged as a poster child for the lithium rebound thanks to its Kathleen Valley project.

Shares have surged 173% over the past 12 months as higher spodumene prices combine with shipments under long-term offtake agreements. A strong cash position and strategic deals with battery makers add credibility to the rally.

That said, Liontown's earnings remain highly sensitive to lithium prices, and cost inflation could bite if the cycle turns. If prices hold firm, the ASX stock could keep grinding higher. But this remains a momentum-fuelled story.

Brokers' sentiment is divided. However, Bell Potter remains bullish on this lithium miner, assigning a buy rating and a $2.42 price target. That points to potential 34% upside over the next 12 months.

The broker says the company is well positioned to capitalise on rising lithium prices, pointing to the strength and quality of its Kathleen Valley project.

IGO

This ASX lithium stock offers a steadier way to play the theme. Unlike pure lithium miners, IGO leans on diversified exposure to nickel and copper, helping cushion commodity swings.

Recent results showed a sharp lift in EBITDA, highlighting the strength of its broader operations even as lithium processing challenges linger. Its stake in Greenbushes and downstream refining provides long-term leverage, but also operational complexity.

Investors chasing stability over explosive upside may prefer IGO, especially if base metals remain supportive.

Analysts are cautious and most rate the ASX lithium share neutral with a 12-month average price target of $8.32, identical to the share price at the time of writing.

Core Lithium

Core Lithium is the high-risk, high-reward option. After shelving production at the depths of the downturn, the ASX lithium share is now gearing up for a restart of the Finniss project. It's backed by higher reserves and lower-cost plans.

The market has jumped on the turnaround narrative, sending shares sharply higher – 164% in the past 12 months. Execution risk remains significant, and funding is always a hurdle. If lithium prices stay elevated and the restart delivers, the upside could be dramatic.

In January, Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on the ASX lithium share and lifted its price target from 27 cents to 40 cents.

This suggests a potential upside of more than 65% over 12 months.

The post Are ASX lithium shares running out of steam? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX 200 materials is up 1.5% as mining shares continue their remarkable run on the back of strongly increasing commodities.

The market's largest miner, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), rose to a two-year high of $50.08 per share this morning.

Amid this rosy backdrop, here are two outperforming ASX mining shares that have more than tripled in value over the past year.

And Canaccord Genuity reckons they still have more room to run.

Sun Silver Ltd (ASX: SS1)

Sun Silver is developing the Maverick Springs silver-gold deposit in Nevada, US.

The deposit has a JORC Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 539 Moz silver equivalent (AgEq) at 71g/t AgEq.

This includes 347.5Moz Ag at 45.5g/t Ag and 2.25Moz gold at 0.30g/t Au.

Sun Silver says this makes Maverick Springs the largest pre-production primary silver deposit listed on the ASX and within the US.

This month, Sun Silver tripled its landholding by staking 427 additional lode claims to the north and south of the existing project.

The Sun Silver share price is $2.39, up 3.01% after reaching a record $2.44 in earlier trading.

This ASX silver mining share has soared 237% over the past 12 months.

Sun Silver is benefiting from the gallivanting silver price, which leapt beyond US$100 per ounce for the first time yesterday.

Silver is supply-constrained at a time of rapidly rising global demand, largely due to its industrial usage in the green energy transition.

Silver is a key input in solar panels, tech devices, electric vehicles, and data centres due to its superior electrical conductivity to copper.

The silver price is up 256% over the past 12 months.

Like gold, silver is also a precious metal finding favour with investors as a safe haven amid volatile global geopolitics and economics.

This month, Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on Sun Silver with a share price target of $4.15.

This implies a potential upside of close to 75% over 12 months.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is 28 cents, down 3.5% on Tuesday and up 211% over the past year.

This ASX lithium mining share is riding the wave of increased demand for lithium since mid-2025.

The global oversupply that smashed lithium commodity prices in 2023 is over, and demand for batteries and electric vehicles is rising.

Analysts at Trading Economics say the lithium carbonate price is now at a two-year high and up 30% already in 2026.

Core Lithium put its flagship Finniss Project into care and maintenance in early 2024 due to weak lithium prices.

The miner released a restart plan last year and says it will only take a month to resume production, once it finds new financial partners.

This month, Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on Core Lithium and lifted its share price target from 27 cents to 40 cents.

This implies a potential upside of more than 40% over 12 months.

The post 2 ASX mining shares up 200% in a year and tipped to keep rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That was slightly higher than the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which rose 6.8% and returned 10.32%.

Earlier this month, we covered the five best-performing ASX All Ords shares for capital growth in 2025.

A number of stocks, not just the top five, more than tripled in value last year.

Here, we look at whether the experts think there is any room for further price growth in 2026 from two of these stocks.

Can these 2 ASX All Ords shares maintain their trajectory?

The following ASX All Ords shares rose by more than 200% in 2025.

Can they stay on this incredible upward trajectory?

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)

The Pantoro share price rose 220% to close at $4.89 on 31 December.

Today, the Pantoro Gold share price is $5.48, up 0.64%.

Like all ASX All Ords gold shares, Pantoro benefited from the astounding 65% gold price rally last year.

Gold has continuing tailwinds, including interest rate cuts, geopolitical tensions, and strong central bank buying worldwide.

Pantoro is optimising its 100% owned Norseman Gold Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.

Norseman's total mineral resource is 4.8Moz. 

Pantoro bought a stake in Norseman in 2019 and merged with its joint venture partner in 2023 to achieve 100% ownership.

Over the past seven years, Pantoro has defined ore reserves of 958,000 ounces.

It has also built a new gold processing plant capable of producing 1.2Moz per annum, and recommenced production across the open pit and underground operations.

Over the past fortnight, three brokers reiterated their buy ratings on Pantoro Gold shares and raised their 12-month price targets.

Ord Minnett lifted its target from $6.40 to $7.30.

Canaccord Genuity increased from $7.30 to $7.50.

Goldman Sachs raised its target from $6.80 to $8.

Clearly, these brokers think this ASX All Ords gold share has more room to run.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

This ASX All Ords lithium share leapt 206% to finish 2025 at 28 cents per share.

On Tuesday, the Core Lithium share price is 26 cents, down 8.9%. There is no news from the company today.

Core Lithium shares have benefited from a rebound in lithium commodity prices since mid-2025.

The global oversupply that killed lithium prices in 2023 is now over, and demand for batteries and electric vehicles is higher.

Analysts at Trading Economics say the lithium carbonate price is now at a two-year high.

Core Lithium's flagship Finniss Project was put into care and maintenance in early 2024 due to weak lithium prices.

However, the miner released a restart plan last year and says it will only take a month to resume production.

However, it can't reopen the mine without new financial partners.

Core Lithium raised its ore reserve estimate for the Grants deposit by 33% to 1.53Mt at 1.42% Li2O last year.

Last week, Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on this ASX All Ords lithium share.

The broker lifted its share price target from 27 cents per share to 40 cents per share.

This implies a potentially large upside of 35% this year.

Goldman Sachs is much less optimistic.

Earlier this month, the broker reiterated its hold rating and increased its price target from 14 cents to 18 cents.

This suggests a 30% share price decline is on the cards.

The post Brokers rate 2 ASX All Ords rippers of 2025: Is their phenomenal run over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The lithium producer's shares are down 9.82% today to 25.3 cents, placing it among the biggest fallers on the ASX. The move extends recent weakness, with the stock now down almost 10% over the past month.

However, Core Lithium shares are still up more than 180% over the past year, which underlines just how volatile lithium stocks can be.

So, what is driving today's drop?

Why Core Lithium shares are under pressure

The recent sell-off appears to be driven by a mix of technical factors and renewed weakness across the lithium sector.

After rallying strongly into late 2025, Core Lithium failed to hold above the 30-cent level. Once that support broke, selling pressure accelerated. Short term traders appear to be taking profits after the stock's huge run over the past year.

From a technical perspective, momentum has clearly weakened. The relative strength index (RSI) has been trending lower and is now moving toward oversold territory. At the same time, the share price has slipped toward the lower end of its Bollinger Band range, which can signal selling pressure may be easing.

Key support sits around 25 cents. A break below that level could open the door to further downside, while resistance is now clustered between 29 and 31 cents.

Lithium prices have pulled back again

The broader lithium market has also lost some momentum.

Lithium carbonate prices in China have retraced from recent highs, easing back toward CNY 151,000 per tonne. While prices are still well above levels seen earlier in 2025, the pullback has reminded investors that the lithium recovery remains uneven.

Supply concerns, shifting demand expectations, and policy changes in China continue to drive sharp moves in pricing.

The bigger picture for Core Lithium

Core Lithium operates the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, one of the few Australian hard rock lithium operations with direct access to export infrastructure via Darwin Port.

That strategic positioning has helped underpin the stock's strong performance over the past year. However, the market remains cautious about near term earnings, costs, and lithium price volatility.

For long-term investors, the key question is whether lithium prices can stabilise at higher levels as electric vehicle demand continues to grow through 2026 and beyond.

Foolish Takeaway

Core Lithium's sharp fall has pushed the share price back toward a level where buyers have stepped in before.

Big price swings are likely to continue, especially while lithium prices keep moving around. For long-term investors, this pullback may be worth keeping an eye on, but caution is still important in a sector this unpredictable.

The post One of the ASX's biggest losers today. What is happening at Core Lithium? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium miner closed Friday trading for 28 cents. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 26.5 cents apiece, down 5.4%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 0.4% at this same time.

If you already own or have been following this ASX lithium stock, you'll know that outsized daily price moves are nothing new for the Core Lithium shares.

Indeed, after the miner hit a multi-year closing low of 5.7 cents on 7 April, shares then rocketed an eye-watering 487.7% to close at a one-year-plus high of 33.5 cents on 8 January.

Following that meteoric rise, there looks to have been some profit-taking going on.

While the share price is still up a remarkable 364.9% since the April lows, shares have fallen 20.9% since 8 January.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should you buy the retrace in Core Lithium shares?

Core Lithium suspended mining operations at its flagship Finniss lithium project in January 2024.

But with lithium prices rebounding, Core Lithium shares could get another big leg up if Finniss returns to production in 2026, as I suspect it might.

It was only back in June that spodumene, a lithium-bearing ore, was trading for just US$575 per tonne. Last week, the same tonne was fetching more than US$2,000 per tonne.

With miners across the world reducing production in recent years, and a number following Core Lithium and suspending operations entirely, global lithium supplies have tightened amid strong demand growth. That's being driven by the growing global EV market alongside fast-growing demand for sustainable energy storage systems, spurred by power-hungry AI data centres.

Commenting on the impact of the fast-rising lithium price, Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) CEO Dale Henderson said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

At US$2,000 per tonne or above, you're at a level that is above the consensus average of what the long-term price needs to be for the market. At these levels, a whole number of assets become profitable.

And in what could spur further gains for Core Lithium shares, the team at Barrenjoey expect lithium prices will reach US$3,250 per tonne in 2026.

"The rally has been driven by consistent destocking of lithium chemicals in China as lithium-ion battery production has continued to surprise the market to the upside, particularly energy storage system battery shipments," Glyn Lawcock, head of resources research at Barrenjoey, said.

So, will we see Core Lithium bring Finniss back online this year?

Commenting on the mothballed Finniss project on 13 October, Core Lithium CEO Paul Brown said:

During the September quarter we built on the Restart Study, delivering a 42% uplift in Ore Reserves with the inclusion of Carlton [in Finniss reserves] … We are well-capitalised and focused on advancing Finniss towards restart and a Final Investment Decision.

Foolish Takeaway

While I don't expect we'll see Core Lithium shares return to the $1.67 highs we saw back in November 2022 this year, should lithium prices keep marching higher and Finniss reopen, today might be an opportune time to buy the stock.

The post Up 365% since April, should you buy the recent dip in Core Lithium shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The prices of silver, lithium, palladium, molybdenum, and indium rose by more than 10%, with indium the stand-out with a 24% lift.

The energy transition is boosting demand for lithium to power batteries and silver to build solar panels and modern tech devices.

Silver has other tailwinds, including global economic uncertainty which is leading to investors seeking safe havens in silver and gold.

The restructure of global trade amid US tariffs and geopolitical tensions is also leading to many nations, including the US and China, limiting exports to protect home-based manufacturing and limit technological advancement and defence capabilities elsewhere.

This had led to new categorisations of certain commodities, such as silver, which the US added to its Critical Minerals List in November.

Let's look at what happened last week with these commodities.

Silver

Last week, the silver price leapt 10.1% to close the global trading week at US$79.95 per ounce.

Silver was the best performing metal or mineral of 2025.

The silver price rose 147% — more than twice the pace of gold — and set a new record at US $83.90 per ounce in the last week of December.

Silver is the 'poor cousin' of gold but benefits from the same tailwind of investors seeking safe havens during economic uncertainty.

Tumultuous geopolitics, less faith in the US dollar as the reserve currency, and falling interest rates have fuelled investors' interest in both.

Silver also has significant industrial uses that have gained relevance in the age of green energy, high technology, and advanced healthcare.

Silver is used in solar panels and tech devices, with Citi estimating that the solar industry is gobbling up 30% of annual production.

Technology device manufacturers use silver to build circuits, connectors, and to solder metals in smartphones, laptops, and other things.

Silver is also essential for electric vehicles (EVs) and data centres. It's in the wiring due to its superior electrical conductivity to copper.

Last week, ASX 200 diversified miner South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) rose 8.45% to close the week at $3.85 per share.

The South32 share price also hit a 52-week high at $3.87 per share last week.

South32 owns the Cannington mine in north-west Queensland, which is one of the world's largest producers of silver and lead.

Lithium

Lithium prices also surged last week, with the carbonate price ripping to a two-year high.

The lithium carbonate price leapt 17.2% to close the week at US$20,064.93 per tonne.

Higher demand and lower supply worldwide has seen lithium prices commence a remarkably rapid rebound over the past six months.

There is greater demand for lithium for batteries and power infrastructure, as well as EV manufacturing — especially in China where EVs outsold traditional cars for the first time last October.

China is also seeking to stabilise lithium prices by avoiding over-capacity.

Trading Economics analysts said:

The Bureau of Natural Resources of Yichun, which includes the lithium mining hub in the Chinese Jiangxi province, stated it would cancel 27 mining permits early next year.

The move was consistent with the earlier suspension of activity in CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine as the Chinese government aims to reduce capacity in many goods industries to prevent the ongoing race-to-the-bottom that has stirred deflationary pressures.

Lithium's surged last week pushed many ASX lithium mining shares to new 52-week highs.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares rose 7.89% to finish the week at $4.65. PLS shares hit a 52-week high of $4.89 over the week.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price streaked 26.5% higher to $2.05, and also struck a new 52-week high at $2.10.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares increased 17.86% to 33 cents on Friday, after hitting a two-year high at 36 cents during the week.

Critical minerals

The commodities palladium and indium, which are on the US Critical Minerals List, and molybdenum all rose by 10% or more last week.

Palladium is one of the six platinum-group metals (PGMs).

It is used in catalytic converters in low-emission vehicles. Converters process carbon monoxide and other toxic gases into less harmful gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which reduces car emissions.

Palladium futures rose 10.6% last week to finish trading at US$1,870.50 per ounce.

Molybdenum strengthens steel and alloys so they can withstand high temperatures and pressures.

The commodity price price rose 10.3% to US$73.10 per kilogram last week.

Indium, which is largely generated as a by-product of zinc ore processing, is used in touchscreens, LEDs, and solar panels.

The indium price surged 24% to US$73.10 per kilogram.

Iltani Resources Ltd (ASX: ILT) is building an Australian-based portfolio of advanced critical minerals exploration projects.

Iltani's main focus is its Herberton Project in northern Queensland.

Herberton has a long history of mining for tin, tungsten, copper, silver-lead-zinc, antimony, molybdenum, and gold.

Iltani's project includes multiple tenements across a 367 square kilometre zone.

Iltani is exploring a large scale silver-indium rich epithermal system at the Orient deposit within the Herberton Project.

The company says:

With additional drilling planned at Orient, Iltani believes there is material potential to increase the grade and size of the Orient System as the project advances towards development.

The Iltani Resources share price has ripped by more than 220% over the past 12 months.

Last week, the ASX mining share slipped 3.9% to finish trading at 62 cents.

The post Silver, lithium, and critical minerals commodities book double digit gains in just one week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX All Ords, which is comprised of 500 companies, slightly outperformed the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The ASX 200 increased by 6.8% and provided total returns of 10.32%.

The main reason for the All Ords' outperformance was the impact of a greater number of small-cap shares than the ASX 200.

ASX small-cap shares have market capitalisations between a few hundred million dollars and $2 billion.

Small-caps ripped in 2025 for several reasons, including falling interest rates, which reduced the cost base of young companies with debt.

The rising value of gold explorers was also a factor, according to Blackwattle portfolio managers, Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren.

Demonstrating this, every single one of the five best-performing ASX All Ords shares for capital growth last year were small-caps.

And three junior gold miners were among them.

The question is, are they still good buys for the new year after such strong price growth in 2025?

Are these ASX All Ords stars still good buys?

The experts weigh in.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Defence company Droneshield achieved the highest share price growth of its ASX All Ords peers in 2025.

The Droneshield share price leapt 300% to close at $3.08 on 31 December.

Droneshield is benefitting from a massive increase in global defence spending amid greater geopolitical turmoil.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX All Ords share with a 12-month price target of $4.50.

In a note, the broker said:

We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global counter-drone industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on RF detect and defeat solutions.

Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.5b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

ASX All Ords gold share Resolute Mining skyrocketed 206% to finish the year at $1.23.

Resolute Mining is an African-focused gold miner currently developing a third gold project, Doropo, in Cote d'Ivoire.

The new mine will supplement existing production from the Syama mine in Mali and the Mako mine in Senegal.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating on Resolute Mining shares with a price target of $2.30.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

This ASX All Ords lithium share leapt 206% higher to close out 2025 at 28 cents per share.

Core Lithium shares have benefitted from rising lithium prices over the past six months.

Investors are now anticipating the re-opening of Core's flagship Finniss Project, which was put into care and maintenance in early 2024 due to weak commodity prices.

Core Lithium released a restart plan last year and reckons it can get Finniss up and running within a month.

But the company needs to find new financial partners first.

Last week, Goldman Sachs retained its hold rating on this ASX All Ords lithium share.

While the broker raised its share price target from 14 cents to 18 cents, this is well below where Core Lithium is trading today.

The post Brokers rate 3 ASX All Ords shares that more than tripled in value in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is down 1.5% to 33 cents. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors after strong gains this week. In fact, the gain was so strong that the Australian stock exchange asked for it to explain the rise on Thursday. Core Lithium responded, stating that it "is not aware of any other explanation that it may have for the recent trading in its securities." But with lithium prices rebounding strongly in recent months, investors may believe that Core Lithium could soon restart its lithium mining operations.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is down 3.5% to $10.52. This is despite there being no news out of the uranium producer on Friday. However, it is worth noting that most ASX uranium stocks are falling today. This could be due to short sellers increasing their positions. Paladin Energy is one of the most shorted shares on the Australian share market.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is down 2% to $211.46. This follows a poor night for US tech stocks, with investors rotating out of the sector and into other areas. It isn't just Pro Medicus that is falling on Friday. The S&P/ASX Information Technology index is now down by 6% since this time last month.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price is down 6% to $143.44. Investors have been selling this mining giant's shares after it revealed that it is looking at a potential merger with Glencore (LSE: GLEN). It said: "Rio Tinto and Glencore have been engaging in preliminary discussions about a possible combination of some or all of their businesses, which could include an all-share merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore. The parties' current expectation is that any merger transaction would be effected through the acquisition of Glencore by Rio Tinto by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement." Though, it warned that there is no certainty that an offer will be made or as to the terms of any such offer, should one be made. Given the share price reaction, investors don't appear keen on the potential merger.

The post Why Core Lithium, Paladin Energy, Pro Medicus, and Rio Tinto shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the market's largest pure-play lithium producer, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) lifted 1.2% to a new 52-week high of $4.89 today.

The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price rose 2.1% to a 52-week high of $8.95.

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares lifted 3.5% to a 52-week high of $2.10.

The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price rocketed 24% to a two-year high of 36 cents.

Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) shares rose 14.3% to a 52-week high of 16 cents.

Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) shares increased 1.9% to a 52-week high of $9.

Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX: GLN) shares rose 5.5% to a 52-week high of 38 cents.

The Delta Lithium Ltd (ASX: DLI) share price lifted 8.5% to a 52-week high of 25.5 cents.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8) shares rose 10.3% to a 52-week high of 43 cents.

Pmet Resources CDI (ASX: PMT) shares rose 11.3% to a 52-week high of 69 cents.

The Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX: WR1) share price lifted 9.8% to a 52-week high of 56 cents.

Midas Minerals Ltd (ASX: MM1) shares rose 10% to a 52-week high of 66 cents.

Lithium prices have been steadily lifting since mid-2025 and leapt higher overnight.

Let's find out why.

Why are lithium prices rising again?

Trading Economics analysts say lithium prices are on the mend due to higher demand and lower supply worldwide.

The lithium carbonate price rose 3.75% overnight to a 19-month high of US$19,793 per tonne.

The Spodumene Concentrate Index (CIF China) Price lifted 1.69% to US$1,800 per tonne.

The Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide price rose 3.6% to US$16,213.76 per tonne.

There is greater demand globally for batteries and power infrastructure amid the green energy transition.

Additionally, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China are rising, with EVs outselling traditional cars for the first time last October.

Trading Economics reports that 'new energy vehicles' in China rose 20.6% annually to a record of 1.823 million units in November.

China has pledged to double EV charging capacity to 180 gigawatts by 2027.

Amid higher demand for lithium, China is also seeking to stabilise lithium prices by implementing measures to avoid over-capacity.

Analysts at Trading Economics said:

The Bureau of Natural Resources of Yichun, which includes the lithium mining hub in the Chinese Jiangxi province, stated it would cancel 27 mining permits early next year.

The move was consistent with the earlier suspension of activity in CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine as the Chinese government aims to reduce capacity in many goods industries to prevent the ongoing race-to-the-bottom that has stirred deflationary pressures.

The post 12 ASX lithium shares rip to 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.