US-listed lithium firms surge after CATL suspends production at key Chinese mine

** U.S.-listed shares of lithium companies rise in premarket trading

** Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) 300750.SZ said it has suspended production at a major lithium mine in China, which is capable of producing about 3% of the world's total forecast output in 2025

** Albemarle ALB.N jumps 8.7%, while Chilean lithium miner Sociedad Quimica SQMA.SN, SQM.N climbs 6.5%

** Lithium Americas LAC.TO, LAC.N up nearly 9%

** Smaller lithium companies Standard Lithium SLI.V, SLI.N, Piedmont Lithium PLL.O and Sigma Lithium SGML.V, SGML.O surge between 5.6% and 13.8%

** Lithium prices have been volatile since July after China toughened its rhetoric against overcapacity, sparking hope among investors that supply-side reforms could rein in output of the metal as well as other commodities like coal and steel