Lithium Argentina Announces 2025 Production Results for Cauchari-Olaroz and Leadership Updates
Rhea-AI Summary
Lithium Argentina (TSX: LAR, NYSE: LAR) reported preliminary 2025 operational results for Cauchari-Olaroz, delivering production at the high end of guidance and record Q4 output.
Key metrics: 2025 production ~34,100 tonnes lithium carbonate (guidance 30,000–35,000 tpa); Q4 2025 ~9,700 tonnes with a 97% average operating rate; cash operating costs expected below $6,000/tonne in Q4 (Q3: $6,285/tonne); net debt reduced by $26M in Q4; >$150M liquidity available. The company submitted a Stage 2 RIGI application for 45,000 tpa expansion and expects to file the PPG RIGI application in Q1 2026. Leadership changes include Alec Meikle promoted to President and John Kanellitsas moving to Chairman of the Board.
Positive
- Production ~34,100 tpa in 2025 (high end of guidance)
- Q4 record production of ~9,700 tonnes (97% operating rate)
- Unit costs reduced to below $6,000/tonne in Q4
- Net debt reduced by $26 million in Q4
- Liquidity >$150 million available from cash and undrawn facilities
- Stage 2 RIGI application filed for 45,000 tpa expansion
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus 2 Up
Among key peers, several show gains (e.g., UAMY +7.34%, SGML +5.96%, LAC +6.76%) while SLI is down 0.82%, suggesting stock-specific factors matter for LAR rather than a uniform sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | Earnings & study | Positive | +9.3% | Q3 2025 results and strong PPG Scoping Study economics. |
| Nov 10 | Project update | Positive | +9.3% | PPG Scoping Study plus Stage 1 environmental approval in Salta. |
| Nov 07 | Earnings timing | Neutral | +9.3% | Announcement of Q3 earnings and PPG study release schedule. |
| Oct 06 | Earnings timing | Neutral | +7.0% | Notice of upcoming third quarter 2025 earnings release and call. |
| Aug 12 | Partnership JV | Positive | -1.4% | Strategic JV with Ganfeng to consolidate PPG basins and fund growth. |
Positive strategic and project updates have generally coincided with positive next-day price reactions, while a major JV announcement previously saw a modest negative move, indicating occasional divergence on partnership news.
Over the last six months, Lithium Argentina has focused on scaling its Argentine lithium projects and advancing Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes (PPG). On Aug 12, 2025, it announced a JV with Ganfeng targeting up to 150,000 tpa LCE, but shares fell modestly. Subsequent Q3 2025-11-10 earnings and PPG Scoping Study news, highlighting Q3 production of 8,300 t and strong project economics, aligned with a 9.25% price gain. Multiple earnings-date notices also saw positive reactions, showing investors have historically rewarded execution and project de-risking.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details Cauchari-Olaroz reaching the high end of 2025 guidance with 34,100 tonnes of lithium carbonate, record Q4 output of 9,700 tonnes, and cash operating costs below $6,000 per tonne, alongside a $26 million net debt reduction and liquidity above $150 million. Investors may compare this operational progress to prior PPG Scoping Study milestones and JV developments, while monitoring execution of the proposed 45,000 tpa Stage 2 expansion and upcoming full-year 2025 results in March 2026.
Key Terms
lithium brine technical
lithium carbonate technical
cash operating costs financial
nameplate capacity technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
ZUG, Switzerland, Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Argentina AG (“Lithium Argentina” or the “Company”) (TSX: LAR) (NYSE: LAR) today announced preliminary 2025 operational results for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation (“Cauchari-Olaroz”) in Jujuy, Argentina. Cauchari-Olaroz delivered strong and consistent operating performance through 2025, achieving production at the high end of annual guidance and record quarterly production in the fourth quarter.
2025 Operational Highlights:
- Achieved high-end of 2025 production guidance. Full-year 2025 production totaled approximately 34,100 tonnes of lithium carbonatei, within guidance of 30,000 – 35,000 tonnes.
- Record fourth quarter production. Fourth quarter 2025 production reached approximately 9,700 tonnes, with an average operating rate of
97% nameplate capacity. - Cash operating costsii expected to be below
$6,000 per tonne. Fourth quarter 2025 cash operating costs are expected to be below$6,000 per tonne of lithium carbonate sold compared to$6,285 per tonne during the third quarter 2025, reflecting continued operational optimization and higher production volumes. - Strong year-end financial position. In the fourth quarter, the Cauchari-Olaroz operation is expected to reduce net debt by
$26 million with$15 million distributed to both Ganfeng and Lithium Argentina and over$150 million in liquidity from cash and available undrawn debt facilities. - Stage 2 RIGI application submitted. In December, Cauchari-Olaroz submitted environmental permit and RIGIiii applications for a Stage 2 expansion of 45,000 tpa of lithium carbonate production capacity. In addition, the RIGI application for the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes (“PPG”) project is being finalized and expected to be submitted during the first quarter of 2026.
“The performance achieved at Cauchari-Olaroz in 2025 represents a significant milestone, reflecting the successful establishment of Argentina’s largest lithium operation and another year of disciplined execution across the organization,” said Sam Pigott, Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Argentina. “Strong production through the fourth quarter, together with continued cost reductions, highlights the increasing operational maturity of the business and positions us well for the next stage of growth as we advance Stage 2 at Cauchari-Olaroz and progress the PPG project.”
Lithium Argentina will provide additional discussion and analysis regarding its full-year and Q4 2025 results when the Company reports its quarterly and full-year results in March 2026.
Leadership Updates
The Company also announced leadership updates reflecting the continued strengthening of its governance and management structure. Alec Meikle has been promoted to President with responsibility for executing the Company’s strategic plan, leading corporate development, overseeing capital-markets activities and managing key external relationships.
In addition, John Kanellitsas will transition from Executive Chairman to Chairman of the Board, where he will continue to provide Board and Committee leadership and focus on long-term strategy and industry partnerships.
“Alec Meikle’s promotion to President formally reflects the strong and effective working relationship he and Sam Pigott have developed, built on complementary skill sets and a shared commitment to long-term value creation for Lithium Argentina shareholders,” said John Kanellitsas. “These organizational changes strengthen governance, clarify roles and position the Company for continued success. I look forward to supporting Sam, Alec and the entire team as we continue building a world-class lithium company.”
ABOUT LITHIUM ARGENTINA
Lithium Argentina is an emerging producer of lithium carbonate for use primarily in lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles. The Company, in partnership with Ganfeng operates the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation in the Jujuy province of Argentina and is advancing PPG in the Salta province of Argentina. Lithium Argentina currently trades on the TSX and on the NYSE under the ticker “LAR”.
For further information contact:
Investor Relations
Telephone: +1 778-653-8092
Email: kelly.obrien@lithium-argentina.com
Website: http://www.lithium-argentina.com
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (which we refer to collectively as forward-looking information) under the provisions of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “propose”, “potential”, “target”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “scheduled”, “implement” and similar words or expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release include, without limitation, information with respect to the following matters or the Company’s expectations relating to such matters: preliminary fourth quarter 2025 operating cash costs; the status and timing of submission of the RIGI application in respect of the PPG Project; the timing and expected benefits of the leadership changes; the timing of when the Company will report its full-year 2025 and fourth quarter results; as well as any potential changes from the results reported in this news release.
Forward-looking information may involve known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties which may cause the Company’s actual results or performance to differ materially. This information reflects the Company’s current views with respect to future events and is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company today, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingences, and accordingly, the Company can give no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. With respect to forward-looking information included in this news release, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things: current technological trends; the business relationship between the Company and Ganfeng; ability to fund its operations; the ability to operate in a safe and effective manner; uncertainties relating to obtaining and/or maintaining mining, exploration, development, environmental and other permits or approvals in Argentina; demand for lithium; impact of increasing competition in the lithium business, including the Company’s competitive position in the industry; general economic conditions; stability and support of legislative, regulatory and community environment in the jurisdiction where it operates; estimates of and changes to market prices for lithium and commodities; estimates costs for the project or operation; estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves, including whether mineral resources will ever be developed into mineral reserves; reliability of technical data; and the ability to achieve full production; and accuracy of budget and estimates. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks that may cause actual results to differ materially, these risks include, among others: risk that the Company may not be able to file the RIGI application in respect of the PPG Project and obtain the anticipated benefits as anticipated, or at all, from the RIGI applications in respect of the PPG Project and Cauchari-Olaroz; the operations may not operate and produce as planned; cost overruns; market prices affecting development of the operation; risks associated with co-ownership arrangements; risks with ability to successfully secure adequate financing if necessary; risks to the growth of the lithium markets; lithium prices; inability to obtain any future required governmental permits and that operations may be limited by government-imposed limitations; technology risk; inability to achieve and manage expected growth; political risk associated with foreign operations, including co-ownership arrangements with foreign domiciled partners; emerging and developing market risks; operational risks; changes in government regulations; changes in environmental requirements; failure to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits or approvals; insurance risk; receipt and security of mineral property titles and mineral tenure risk; changes in project or operation parameters; uncertainties associated with estimating mineral resources and mineral reserves, including uncertainties regarding assumptions underlying such estimates; whether mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves; geological or technical or processing problems; liabilities and risks; health and safety risks; unanticipated results; unpredictable weather; unanticipated delays; reduction in demand for lithium; inability to generate profitable operations; restrictive covenants in debt instruments; intellectual property risks; dependency on key personnel; currency and interest rate fluctuations; and volatility in general market and industry conditions. Additional risks, assumptions and other factors are set out in the Company’s management discussion analysis and most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, copies of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca
Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks and assumptions, given the inherent uncertainties in such forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results to differ materially. Forward-looking information is made as of the date hereof and the Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
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i Approximately 34,100 tonnes of lithium carbonate production is inclusive of 359 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent from lithium chloride concentrate produced and sold to Ganfeng in H1 2025 to support the start-up of Ganfeng’s Mariana lithium project.
ii Cash operating costs includes all expenditures incurred at the site such as brine management, lithium plant processing, site and provincial office overheads and inventory adjustments. These costs also include project general and administrative costs and sales logistics costs. Cash operating cost per tonne is a non-GAAP financial measure or ratio and does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. For definitions, purpose and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures and ratios, please refer to the section titled “NON-IFRS AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES” of the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months end September 30, 2025, which section is incorporated by reference herein and as filed on the Company's website at www.lithium-argentina.com, on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
iii Argentina’s Régimen de Incentivo para Grandes Inversiones (RIGI) is a government framework designed to attract large-scale investment by providing stable, long-term tax, regulatory and foreign exchange benefits.
FAQ
How much lithium carbonate did Lithium Argentina (LAR) produce in 2025?
What was Lithium Argentina's (LAR) Q4 2025 production and operating rate?
What were Cash Operating Costs for LAR in Q4 2025 and how did they compare to Q3?
What liquidity and debt changes did Lithium Argentina (LAR) report for Q4 2025?
What expansion plans did Lithium Argentina (LAR) announce and when will PPG RIGI be filed?
Who are the leadership changes at Lithium Argentina (LAR) announced on January 6, 2026?
