Ganfeng Lithium: company information — A concise, data-driven profile of one of the world’s largest integrated lithium producers and processors. This overview highlights corporate identity, asset footprint, product mix, recent financials and strategic positioning within the global lithium supply chain. Readers will find a structured fact sheet, project-level notes, operational capabilities and competitive context referencing peers such as Albemarle, Livent, SQM, and Tianqi Lithium. The profile synthesizes public filings, industry reports and market databases to present a comparable company snapshot that is useful to investors, supply‑chain managers and battery industry analysts. Short paragraphs prioritize clarity: corporate origins and listing history are clarified; major projects across Australia, Argentina, Mexico and China are itemized; downstream processing and recycling capabilities are described; and governance and ESG initiatives are summarized. The dossier includes direct links to primary sources and industry pages for rapid verification and further research.
Ganfeng Lithium – Company profile, identity and corporate data
Corporate snapshot: Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. is an integrated lithium producer headquartered in Xinyu, Jiangxi, China. The entity known globally as Ganfeng Lithium operates across upstream resource development, midstream refining and lithium chemicals, and downstream battery and recycling activities. The company is commonly cited as one of the largest lithium salt producers in China and a leading global processor of lithium compounds and metals.
Corporate history requires clarification because sources reference multiple milestone dates. The operating entity traces its commercial origins to the early 2000s, while a formal group reorganisation and market listings created public parent structures in later years. This profile reconciles those points by noting the operating business’s long operational history and the group’s more recent corporate structuring and public market entries.
Key facts table (core dataset for comparison)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. |
| Ticker(s) & Exchange(s) | GNENF (OTC US) / Listed entities in China & Hong Kong (group listings) |
| Country | China |
| Headquarters | Xinyu, Jiangxi Province |
| Founded | Operating activities from c.2000; group incorporation and listed structures formalised by 2017 |
| CEO | Company-published executive leadership (see official site) — management names available on the corporate website |
| Employees | Reported across group: tens of thousands in operations, research and manufacturing (see latest annual report) |
| Sector | Mining / Processing / Batteries |
| Sub-Sector | Lithium extraction, refining, battery materials, battery manufacturing & recycling |
| Market Cap (USD) | Varies by listing; refer to live market pages such as StockAnalysis GNENF and group public filings |
| Revenue (USD) | $6.08B (2022, reported) |
| Net Income (USD) | $3.02B (2022, reported) |
| Lithium Production (tonnes LCE/year) | Group production ranks among top global processors; production volumes vary by year — consult recent filings and trade data for precise LCE tonnages |
| Main Mines / Projects | Mount Marion (Australia), Cauchari-Olaroz (Argentina JV interests), Mariana (Argentina), Sonora (Mexico stakes), Pilgangoora (Pilbara, WA), Ningdu Heyuan (China), Avalonia (Ireland) |
| Project Locations | Australia, Argentina, Mexico, China, Ireland |
| Proven & Probable Reserves | Reserves reported by project partners and joint ventures; consolidated P&P vary with asset stakes (see project technical reports) |
| Processing Facilities | Multiple refining plants in China and international refining partnerships; capacities among the largest globally for lithium compounds and lithium metal |
| Exploration Stage (If junior) | Not applicable — integrated producer with both developed assets and ongoing exploration portfolios |
| Key Partnerships / Clients | Supply relationships with cathode and battery manufacturers and OEMs; widely reported customers include major EV and battery suppliers (industry sources) |
| Stock Index Membership | Listed on domestic exchanges and represented in relevant mining and chemical indices depending on the listed vehicle |
| ESG / Sustainability Initiatives | Group disclosures emphasize recycling, water management and local stakeholder programs; project-level ESG metrics reported in sustainability statements |
| Website | ganfenglithium.com (English) |
Useful reference links for verification and further reading include the company Wikipedia entry at Wikipedia, trade coverage at Supply Chain Digital, analytic profiles such as Tracxn and StockAnalysis, and industry association listings at International Lithium Association.
- Primary data sources: audited financial statements and public filings, verified industry databases.
- Competitive context: tracked against large (Albemarle, SQM), mid-tier (Tianqi Lithium, Livent) and juniors (Piedmont Lithium, Nemaska Lithium).
- Investor references: PitchBook and Tracxn company profiles provide deal and investor histories (PitchBook, Tracxn).
Key insight: Ganfeng’s integrated model—resource stakes, midstream refining and downstream battery work—remains its defining differentiator in global lithium markets.
Operations, asset footprint and project-level details for Ganfeng Lithium
This section outlines project locations, operational roles in joint ventures, and production-related activities. The company’s asset portfolio spans brine and hard-rock sources and includes both equity ownership in mines and offtake/processing agreements. Documentation shows interests in Australian hard-rock operations, South American brine projects, and domestic Chinese ore mines and refineries.
Project list and operational role
Key projects listed publicly and in industry reporting include: Mount Marion (Western Australia), Pilgangoora (Pilbara), Cauchari-Olaroz (Jujuy, Argentina), Mariana (Salta, Argentina), Sonora (Mexico – stake or offtake arrangements), Ningdu Heyuan (Jiangxi Province, China) and exploratory interests such as the Avalonia project in Ireland.
- Mount Marion (Australia): participation through equity interest or offtake; project primarily hard-rock spodumene — contributes spodumene concentrate to global refining routes.
- Pilgangoora (Pilbara, WA): exposure via partner arrangements; the region is a significant hard‑rock supplier for international refiners.
- Cauchari-Olaroz & Mariana (Argentina): brine projects where Ganfeng has participated through either direct stakes, JVs, or strategic partnerships to secure lithium carbonate/hydroxide feedstock.
- Sonora (Mexico): involvement reported through project stakes and commercial arrangements with local operators.
- Ningdu Heyuan (China): domestic ore operations providing feedstock to Chinese refining facilities.
Operational strategies vary by asset. In Australia and Africa, the company often gains feedstock through equity or offtake ties to spodumene mines. In South America, the focus is brine extraction and downstream conversion to battery-grade carbonate and hydroxide. In China, integrated refining enables conversion of feedstocks to battery-grade materials and lithium metal products.
Production capability and product slate
Ganfeng produces a broad product range including battery-grade lithium carbonate, battery-grade lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, lithium metal (ingots, foils, rods, powder), and specialty lithium compounds like lithium fluoride and butyl lithium. It also manufactures lithium-ion motive batteries, energy storage systems and consumer batteries. The group operates recycling initiatives for end-of-life batteries to reclaim lithium and other critical battery materials.
- Downstream products: battery-grade carbonate/hydroxide for cathode manufacturers.
- Lithium metal: used in specialty applications and research for next-generation cells.
- Battery systems: motive power batteries and energy storage units sold to OEMs and industrial clients.
- Recycling: facility-level programs to recover lithium and reduce dependence on virgin feedstock.
Examples of commercial relationships include supply to cathode and battery suppliers and to automotive OEMs. Industry reporting frequently cites transactions and offtake linkages between Ganfeng and major international players, supporting the company’s role within EV supply chains.
Operational risks and project execution examples
Project execution risks are typical for multi-jurisdictional miners: permitting delays, brine evaporation seasonality, metallurgical complexity in hard-rock conversion and local stakeholder engagement. A specific operational anecdote illustrates this: a spodumene shipment from a Western Australian partner required additional conversion capacity at a Chinese refinery to meet lithium hydroxide specifications demanded by an EV cathode customer. The result was an accelerated commissioning of additional refining throughput, financed through joint arrangements.
- Permitting & Community: South American brine projects require robust water management and local engagement strategies.
- Metallurgy: Hard-rock spodumene must be processed to battery-grade hydroxide; conversion bottlenecks can create pricing differentials along the supply chain.
- Logistics: global shipping and customs policies periodically affect raw material flows between mines and refineries.
Key insight: Ganfeng’s diversified asset footprint mitigates single-asset exposure, but the company’s value chain remains sensitive to conversion capacity and cross-border logistics that influence battery-grade material availability.
Financial performance, ownership, investors and competitive ranking
This section focuses on recent financial outcomes, institutional investors, competitor benchmarking and media/activity metrics. The company reported $6.08 billion in revenue and $3.02 billion in net income for 2022, figures that underscore the capital intensity and profitability of integrated lithium supply chains during periods of high market prices.
Ownership and investor base
Public disclosures and market profiles list significant institutional investors and strategic shareholders. Notably, reports include participation by large corporate investors such as Xiaomi and private capital groups like GSR Capital among institutional backers. These relationships reflect strategic industrial interest from battery and technology sectors seeking secure lithium supply.
- Institutional names: Xiaomi (strategic investor), GSR Capital (private equity interest).
- Public markets: group securities trade on domestic exchanges and through over-the-counter vehicles abroad; daily valuations are available via public quote services.
- Analyst coverage: PitchBook and Tracxn provide deal histories and investor snapshots (PitchBook, Tracxn).
Competitive positioning
Ganfeng sits alongside major integrated lithium firms. Competitors vary from large diversified chemical companies to focused lithium specialists. The competitive set typically includes names such as Albemarle, SQM, Tianqi Lithium, Livent, Lithium Americas, Piedmont Lithium, Mineral Resources Limited, Orocobre, Galaxy Resources, and Nemaska Lithium. Comparative company pages and sector primers can be consulted for peer metrics: see profiles for Tianqi Lithium, Albemarle, and SQM.
- Global top-tier peers: Albemarle, SQM — large brine and chemical processors.
- Chinese peers: Tianqi Lithium and others — focus on hard-rock spodumene and domestic processing.
- Specialist juniors and mid-tiers: Piedmont Lithium, Lithium Americas — project-driven developers.
Media coverage and analyst metrics
Industry data trackers record frequent media events: Tracxn reported several dozen media items and company updates within a recent 12‑month window, including partnership announcements and corporate developments. Market analysts use such signal flows to estimate near-term production ramps and contract wins. For deeper company profiles see reports on Craft, Disfold and trade coverage such as Battery-Tech.
- Reported media events: partnerships, corporate updates and asset-level news.
- Analyst resources: PitchBook, Tracxn, StockAnalysis provide multiple lenses on deal activity and ownership.
Key insight: Ganfeng’s financial scale and investor mix position it among the industry’s most influential integrated players, providing negotiating power with miners and battery manufacturers alike.
Peer Comparator — Ganfeng Lithium vs Peers
| Company | 2022 Revenue (USD m) | 2022 Net Income (USD m) | Primary Asset Type | Notable Projects | Strategic Strengths | Select |
|---|
Comparison Chart (Revenue vs Net Income)
Details / Expanded View
David Miller is a financial writer and analyst who has spent more than ten years studying how natural resources shape the global economy. His work often gravitates toward lithium and other battery metals, not just because of their financial weight, but because of their role in the world’s energy transition and the shift toward cleaner technologies.
Having followed the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy from both an investment and environmental perspective, David believes that telling the story of each company matters. Behind every market cap or production figure, there are people, communities, and long-term projects that define how the lithium supply chain evolves.
In this directory, his goal is to provide profiles that are accurate, comparable, and accessible, but also written with an awareness of the bigger picture: how each company contributes to the future of energy, mobility, and sustainability.