Albemarle CEO: Lithium Demand Continues to Remain Strong

May 7 (Reuters) - Albemarle Corp ALB.N:

• ALBEMARLE CEO KENT MASTERS: CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG END MARKET DEMAND FOR LITHIUM

• ALBEMARLE: EXPECTING HIGHER 2026 COSTS OF $70 MILLION TO $90 MILLION TIED TO MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

• ALBEMARLE: OFFSET HIGHER COSTS WITH LOWER INTEREST RATES, RISING PRODUCT PRICES AND VOLUMES

• ALBEMARLE CEO: GLOBAL LITHIUM CONSUMPTION UP 37% THIS YEAR

• ALBEMARLE CEO: EXPECT LITHIUM DEMAND TO BE RESILIENT DURING MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

• ALBEMARLE CEO: 'STRONG GROWTH' IN ENERGY STORAGE MARKET 'MORE THAN COMPENSATED' FOR WEEK EV SALES VOLUMES IN Q1

• ALBEMARLE CEO: STARTED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR COMMERCIAL DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION PLANT IN CHILE

• ALBEMARLE CEO: PLANNING UP TO SIX DLE TRAINS IN CHILE, WOULD BRING ONLINE IN PHASES AS MARKET DICTATES

• ALBEMARLE CEO: 'CONFIDENT' ABOUT STRATEGIC VALUE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN LITHIUM PROJECT IN NORTH CAROLINA

• ALBEMARLE CEO: ENERGY SECURITY AND GRID RESILIENCY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GLOBAL DRIVERS FOR LITHIUM DEMAND

• ALBEMARLE: BATTERY CUSTOMERS HAVE FULL ORDER BOOKS THROUGH BEGINNING OF 2027

• ALBEMARLE: INCREASED COSTS LARGELY DUE TO RISING SULFURIC ACID PRICES DURING MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

• ALBEMARLE: USES SULFURIC ACID FOR SPODUMENE PROCESSING

• ALBEMARLE CEO: NOT HAPPY WITH SAFETY PLANS AT AUSTRALIA'S GREENBUSHES LITHIUM MINE, HAVE RELAYED THAT TO JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS

• ALBEMARLE CEO: NOT EXPECTING 'HUGE SUPPLY RESPONSE' TO RECENT INCREASE IN LITHIUM PRICES

Source text: [ID:]