Albemarle Announces Plans to Idle its Kemerton Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant
Rhea-AI Summary
Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) will idle Train 1 at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia and place it into care and maintenance effective immediately. This follows 2024 actions to idle Train 2 and to cease expansion plans for Trains 3 and 4.
The plant processes spodumene from Greenbushes. Albemarle said the decision improves financial flexibility, is expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA beginning in Q2 2026, and will not affect projected 2026 volumes. Mining interests in Australia remain unchanged.
Positive
- Expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA beginning Q2 2026
- No impact to projected 2026 volumes
- Australian mining interests (Greenbushes, Wodgina) remain unaffected
Negative
- Kemerton production capacity reduced by idling Train 1
- Company previously ceased expansion plans for Trains 3 and 4, limiting future capacity growth
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Momentum scanner shows no peers in active momentum. Broader specialty chemicals peers are mixed, with some modest gains and losses, indicating this announcement is likely more company-specific than sector-driven.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +0.4% | Announcement of timing and access details for Q4 2025 earnings release. |
| Dec 12 | Offtake agreement news | Positive | -1.4% | Cesium concentrate offtake agreement and reaffirmed 2026 production target by partner. |
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | +4.0% | Q3 results with higher adjusted EBITDA and stronger cash generation despite a net loss. |
| Oct 27 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +0.5% | Quarterly dividend of <b>$0.405</b> per share, annualized at <b>$1.62</b>. |
| Oct 27 | Ketjen stake sale | Neutral | -8.9% | Agreement for KPS to acquire controlling stake in Ketjen with Albemarle retaining minority interest. |
Recent news has generally seen modest price moves, with one notable selloff on the Ketjen stake transaction and a divergence where positive offtake news coincided with a small decline.
Over the last few months Albemarle has focused on portfolio optimization, capital discipline and communications around key dates. The Ketjen stake sale announced on Oct 27, 2025 drew the largest negative move. A quarterly dividend on the same day and Q3 2025 results on Nov 5, 2025 saw mild positive reactions. An offtake-related news item on Dec 12, 2025 coincided with a small decline. The current Kemerton idling continues the theme of cost and asset optimization following earlier strategic steps.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Albemarle’s decision to idle the remaining Kemerton lithium hydroxide train while stating that 2026 volumes should be unaffected and adjusted EBITDA becomes accretive from Q2 2026. It continues a broader pattern of cost actions and strategic portfolio moves, following reduced capex and the Ketjen stake sale. Investors may watch future disclosures for how alternative production channels support customer demand and how the company balances Western supply-chain optionality with financial flexibility.
Key Terms
spodumene technical
adjusted EBITDA financial
forward-looking statements regulatory
Annual Report on Form 10-K regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Decision improves financial flexibility and preserves optionality
The Kemerton plant processes spodumene from the Greenbushes mine, one of the world's best spodumene resources. Albemarle holds ownership interest and half of the offtake rights from Greenbushes through an Australian joint venture. Kemerton, with its proven technology and commercial scale lithium hydroxide production, was built to enable the development of a Western lithium supply chain.
"Idling operations at Kemerton was a difficult decision. It follows significant actions we have taken over the past two and a half years to reduce operating costs during an extended period of price volatility in the market," said Kent Masters, Albemarle Chairman and CEO. "Unfortunately, recent lithium price improvements alone are not enough to offset the challenges facing Western hard-rock lithium conversion operations. This decision improves our financial flexibility and preserves optionality."
The decision is expected to be accretive to adjusted EBITDA beginning in the second quarter of 2026 with no impact to projected 2026 volumes. Albemarle will meet customer demand for lithium hydroxide through other production channels.
Albemarle's mining interests in
In a separate press release issued today, Albemarle shared its fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings results. The company will provide further details on its conference call to discuss its financial results at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial. A link to the webcast can be found through Albemarle Corporation's website at http://investors.albemarle.com. Direct dial numbers are provided below:
Participant Dial-in Numbers:
International: 1-240-690-8800
Conference ID: ALBQ4
Attendee URL:
https://albemarle-q4-2025-earnings-call.open-exchange.net/
About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) leads the world in transforming essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity and health. We partner to pioneer new ways to move, power, connect and protect with people and planet in mind. A reliable and high-quality global supply of lithium and bromine allows us to deliver advanced solutions for our customers. Learn more about how the people of Albemarle are enabling a more resilient world at Albemarle.com.
Albemarle regularly posts information to Albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations,
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements concerning our expectations, anticipations and beliefs regarding the future, which constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on assumptions that we have made as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "intend," "may," "outlook," "scenario," "should," "would," and "will" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements may include statements regarding: our 2026 company and segment outlooks, including guidance related to impact on 2026 EBITDA and volumes; plans and expectations regarding customer demand, production impacts, financial flexibility and optionality, potential market pricing of lithium and other underlying assumptions and outlook considerations, other mining interests and projects, and all other information relating to matters that are not historical facts. These and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current estimates, assumptions and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying estimates, assumptions or expectations prove to be inaccurate or are unrealized. Factors that could cause Albemarle's actual results to differ materially from the outlook expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: changes in economic and business conditions; changes in trade policies and tariffs; financial and operating performance of customers; timing and magnitude of customer orders; fluctuations in lithium market prices; potential production volume shortfalls; increased competition; changes in product or conversion demand; availability and cost of raw materials and energy; technological change and development; completion of the audit of our annual financial statements; fluctuations in foreign currencies; changes in laws and government regulation; regulatory actions, proceedings, claims or litigation; cyber-security breaches, terrorist attacks, industrial accidents or natural disasters; geopolitical conflicts and political unrest; trade policies and tariffs; changes in inflation or interest rates; volatility in the debt and equity markets; acquisition and divestiture transactions; timing and success of projects; performance of Albemarle's partners in joint ventures and other projects; changes in credit ratings; and the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports Albemarle files with the SEC, including those described under "Risk Factors" in Albemarle's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are filed with the SEC and available on the investor section of Albemarle's website (investors.albemarle.com) and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Albemarle assumes no obligation to provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
Investor Relations Contact: +1 (980) 308-6194, invest@albemarle.com
Media Contact: Ryan Dean, +1 (980) 308-6310, media@albemarle.com
Australia Media Contact: mediacontactaustralia@albemarle.com
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SOURCE Albemarle Corporation
FAQ
Why did Albemarle (ALB) idle Kemerton Train 1 on February 11, 2026?
Will the Kemerton idling affect Albemarle's 2026 lithium hydroxide volumes (ALB)?
When will the Kemerton idling impact Albemarle's financial results (ALB)?
Does idling Kemerton affect Albemarle's Australian mining assets like Greenbushes (ALB)?
How will Albemarle (ALB) supply customers after Kemerton Train 1 is idled?
