Lithium prices have plunged in 2025, pushing down shares of lithium producers globally.
The best performing ASX lithium stocks this year are diversified across other businesses or minerals.
Lithium ETFs like ASX: ACDC are a good option if you want to invest in a whole portfolio of lithium companies.
Lithium is one of the key ingredients used to power the modern world. Whether it's rechargeable batteries for phones, electric vehicles or grid storage, chances are it contains some sort of lithium.
Australia is one of the world's biggest lithium producers and therefore home to a number of lithium stocks that trade on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
According to a Finder survey (Dec 2023), around 15% of Australian investors hold lithium shares.
But lithium prices have come under pressure over the last 12 months due to oversupply issues. That's seen share prices of some of Australia's biggest lithium producers, such as Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) and Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN), plunge as much as 60%.
But while shares of major lithium producers are deep in the red so far in 2025, there are several smaller and more diversified companies that are outperforming the market.
Lithium market roundup
Lithium and battery materials hit a major speed bump in July. These commodities are the essential ingredients for electric vehicles and the broader green energy transition, but they have been running decidedly low on charge recently. The proxy for lithium and battery materials fell 23.3% last month.
That steep drop only added to a pretty tough run. Over the past three months the proxy fell 29.52%. Looking at the year so far paints a similarly bleak picture with the market having fallen 10.98% overall. While battery metals are widely viewed as the critical fuel of the future, these downward movements show a clear lack of confidence from investors right now.
What are the best ASX lithium stocks?
These are the 5 best-performing Australian lithium stocks over the last 12 months1. We only included stocks with a market cap of over $100 million.
Altair Minerals Ltd (ASX: ALR): 1800.00%
Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS): 1087.50%
Midas Minerals Ltd (ASX: MM1): 535.71%
European Lithium Ltd (ASX: EUR): 451.47%
Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX: GLN): 390.74%
This data was last updated on 20 April 2026.
Why are these the top ASX lithium shares?
While most lithium stocks have struggled over the past year due to falling lithium prices and concerns around oversupply, these ASX-listed companies have bucked the trend. Their outperformance isn’t necessarily tied to lithium prices alone, in fact, that’s part of the reason they’ve done well.
Native Mineral Resources (ASX: NMR) and Andean Silver (ASX: ASL) are still in exploration stages, with diversified portfolios that include gold, copper and silver. These metals have gained investor attention as safe-haven or strategic commodities, giving the companies broader appeal beyond just lithium.
Ecograf (ASX: EGR) is focused on producing battery-grade graphite rather than lithium, which helps shield it from direct exposure to lithium market swings. Investor optimism around critical minerals for EVs and battery supply chains has helped fuel its rise.
Core Lithium (ASX: CXO), while tightly tied to the lithium market, has managed modest gains due to strong production milestones and long-term customer contracts. Delta Lithium (ASX: DLI) has seen its share price fall in the past year, but it has still outperformed the broader lithium sector. The company’s relatively strong funding position and project advancement timelines have helped cushion the blow.
In short, these stocks are outperforming because they’re not just lithium plays. They’re diversified, early-stage or strategically aligned with broader clean energy trends.
What are lithium stocks?
Lithium stocks are companies in the lithium industry. There are 2 main types of lithium companies: lithium producers and companies that rely on lithium as a raw material.
Companies that produce lithium can either mine hard rock or harvest lithium-brine deposits. Mining removes lithium from a mineral using a drill, while harvesting brine deposits extracts lithium that has dissolved in groundwater through evaporation.
The brine technique takes approximately 18 months, which is slower than traditional mining.
Many companies that use lithium generally focus on lithium-ion batteries and devices. For example, electric vehicles rely on lithium as the basis for their green technology.
Many of the major car manufacturers have been announcing partnerships with lithium miners. So price fluctuations and changes in the lithium market can directly affect the stock prices of companies that use lithium as a raw material.
What lithium ETFs are listed on the ASX?
Another way to invest in lithium is via an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that either tracks the price of lithium or a basket of lithium-related stocks.
There is currently only one dedicated lithium ETF on the ASX - the Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC), which tracks the performance of global companies involved in the mining and refinement of lithium and the production of lithium batteries. The ACDC Lithium ETF has returned -3.10% year-on-year as of June 2025.
There are also a handful of global ETFs that track some part of the lithium or battery sector but don't trade on the ASX:
In order to trade these ETFs, you'll need to have an account with a share trading platform that offers access to the US stock market.
Why are investors excited about lithium?
Lithium is a key ingredient in rechargeable batteries used in phones, laptops and electric vehicles (EVs). As demand for EVs and mobile tech grows, so does the need for lithium.
While the world is already using a lot of lithium, demand is set to swell, with the lithium battery market alone growing by $92 billion by 2025. Investment in next-gen vehicles is set to exceed $500 billion by 2030.2
But lithium isn’t just used in batteries – it also strengthens metals like aluminium (used in bikes and aircraft) and is even used in medicine to treat bipolar disorder.
Expert insight
"The bottom line is that you have countries, governments and bodies pushing to make the world emission free by 2050, car makers are transitioning from fuel engines to EVs – with many making fuel engine cars obsolete."
Jessica Amir
Market Strategist, Moomoo
What are the risks of investing in lithium stocks?
Despite the strong demand outlook, the industry faces a major challenge: oversupply. Global lithium production has ramped up faster than demand, pushing down prices and forcing some producers to pause or scale back operations. Lithium producers, particularly in China and Australia, ramped up output in expectation of surging EV demand, however growth had slowed by 2023 as interest rates globally rose and government subsidies on EVs were cut.
Lithium-ion batteries also often require cobalt. Unfortunately, two-thirds of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making its supply susceptible to political instability.
And it doesn’t help that there’s no benchmark price for lithium. Unlike oil or gold, lithium pricing isn’t standardised, and most deals are made through private contracts. That means investors are often relying on data from a few listed companies and spot market estimates, which makes it harder to gauge the true state of the global market, and increases the risk of flying blind.
Buy ASX lithium stocks and ETFs online
You'll need a brokerage account to buy lithium stocks or ETFs. Compare options in the table below.
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How we picked these
Finder Score for share trading platforms
We've scored over 30 share trading platforms assessing them for their core features, fees, customer experience and accessibility. Our experts give each platform a score out of 10.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
So, should I buy lithium shares from Australia?
Australia is one of the world’s biggest lithium producers, so buying lithium shares here gives you direct exposure to a globally in-demand resource But timing matters. Lithium prices have plunged in the past year due to oversupply, and many local miners have seen their profits and share prices fall since the peak of 2023.
That said, long-term demand for lithium remains strong, driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and global decarbonisation efforts.< If you’re a long-term investor who can stomach short-term volatility, Aussie lithium stocks could offer value. Just make sure to research each company’s production status, costs, and market exposure, especially in a low-price environment. Diversifying across several stocks or using ETFs may help spread your risk. To buy lithium shares, you’ll need a brokerage account. Weigh a few trading platforms to find a brokerage firm that best fits your investing needs.
Frequently asked questions
Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium is considered the largest lithium supplier and miner in the world. The company has a market capitalisation of $27.38 billion and holds lithium resources in China, Australia, Argentina and Mexico.
Unlike most metals, there is no traded price for lithium. Many companies sell their lithium on long-term contracts.
Although the supply for lithium either exceeds or matches the demand in recent years, lithium is a comparatively rare element because you can only find it in low concentrations, according to the Handbook of Lithium and National Calcium.
Sources
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
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Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments.
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