Lithium firms surge after CATL suspends production at key Chinese mine

** Shares of lithium companies rise in the morning trading

** Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) 300750.SZ says 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 7.5%, while U.S.-listed shares of Chilean lithium miner Sociedad Quimica SQM.N climbs 8.2%

** Lithium Americas LAC.TO up about 11%

** Smaller lithium companies Standard Lithium SLI.V, Piedmont Lithium PLL.O and Sigma Lithium SGML.V surge between 5.6% and 12.7%

** 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