The downturn in the electric vehicle and consumer electronics industries due to COVID-19 is finally taking a toll on the lithium mining industry. Miner SQM has stated global demand for lithium in 2020 “could be similar to levels seen last year” with the firm’s sales having fallen by 20% year over year in Q1. SQM’s exports of lithium from Chile actually rose by 4.7% year over year in Q1, suggesting a build up of inventories overseas. That included a surge in sales to China compared to zero a year earlier. Shipments to the rest of the world fell. Total Chilean li...