Lithium Leader Loses Over $2 Billion in Market Cap in One Day

Albemarle Corp (NYSE: ALB) closed on the New York Stock Exchange at $198.01, down 8.17%, wiping out approximately $1.8 billion (about ₩2.4 trillion) of its market capitalization in a single day. Trading volume was around 2.32 million shares, but despite the decline, the company still commands a market cap of roughly $23.3 billion (approximately ₩31.5 trillion).

Driven by expectations of a lithium‐demand recovery and broker upgrades, Albemarle’s shares have surged about 90% over the past six months. In the prior trading session, the stock jumped more than 16%, setting a new 52-week high.

However, with volatility persisting—exemplified by a sharp drop in lithium futures prices on China’s futures market—analysts note that rapid gains have been followed by profit‐taking, leading to repeated short-term corrections.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Albemarle is one of the world’s leading lithium suppliers, specializing in lithium for electric-vehicle batteries and bromine-based specialty chemicals.

The company significantly cut capital expenditures and costs to improve cash flow and profitability in 2025. It has also outlined a mid-to-long-term plan to further enhance margins in 2026 through additional cost reductions and rising lithium demand.