Albemarle Corporation

Albemarle Corporation is a global leader in specialty chemicals with commanding positions in lithium, bromine, and refining catalysts. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company traces its roots back to 1887 when it was founded as Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company in Richmond, Virginia. Over its 138-year history, Albemarle has transformed from a small paper manufacturer into one of the world's largest lithium producers, playing a critical role in the global energy transition.

Today, Albemarle operates through three main business segments: Energy Storage (lithium compounds for batteries), Specialties (bromine and specialized lithium solutions), and Ketjen (refining catalysts). The company is particularly recognized as a leading global lithium producer, though it has faced challenges with the fourth-highest production ranking as of April 2025, behind Rio Tinto, SQM, and Ganfeng Lithium. Albemarle's lithium operations are essential to the electric vehicle revolution, with products used in battery manufacturing for EVs and energy storage systems.

Albemarle reported revenue of $5.4 billion in 2024, with approximately 7,400-8,300 employees worldwide. The company operates major production facilities globally, including lithium conversion plants in Chile (La Negra) and China (Meishan), as well as bromine production facilities across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Under the leadership of CEO J. Kent Masters, who joined in 2020 and had his contract extended through March 2027, Albemarle has been navigating significant lithium price volatility while implementing aggressive cost reduction programs and strategic capital expenditure cuts to maintain competitiveness.