POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution Joins Metalshub for Lithium Hydroxide Price Discovery

Düsseldorf, Germany, 21 May 2026 — Metalshub, a leading platform provider for the metals and mining industry, is pleased to announce that POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution Co., Ltd. (PPLS), a South Korean producer of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, has joined the Metalshub platform to conduct price discovery events for lithium hydroxide.

PPLS is a joint venture established in 2021 between POSCO Holdings (82%) and Australian mining company Pilbara Minerals (18%), importing lithium ore from Australia to produce lithium hydroxide for rechargeable battery materials in South Korea. The facility has a total annual production capacity of 43,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate — sufficient to produce batteries for approximately one million electric vehicles. As South Korea’s first commercial-scale, spodumene-based battery-grade lithium hydroxide operation, PPLS is positioned as one of the few lithium chemicals producers outside of China.

Through Metalshub’s platform, PPLS will be able to launch structured price discovery events for lithium hydroxide, creating more transparent price signals and engaging Metalshub’s network of more than 100 qualified buyers. The collaboration supports PPLS’s commercial strategy as lithium producers and buyers increasingly seek reliable, data-driven mechanisms for market-based pricing.

“Welcoming PPLS to Metalshub marks another important step in the digitalisation of battery raw material markets,” said Dr. Frank Jackel, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Metalshub. “By using Metalshub for lithium hydroxide price discovery, PPLS supports greater transparency and efficiency in a market where reliable price signals are becoming increasingly important for producers, buyers, and the wider battery supply chain.”

The collaboration reflects the growing role of digital sales channels in lithium and battery raw materials. As market participants navigate evolving supply chains, regionalisation, and changing demand patterns, transparent digital processes can support more efficient transactions and contribute to the development of resilient raw material markets.

POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution Co., Ltd. (PPLS) is a joint venture between POSCO Holdings and Pilbara Minerals, established to develop and operate a lithium hydroxide monohydrate conversion facility in South Korea. The company imports spodumene concentrate from Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora Operation in Western Australia and converts it into battery-grade lithium hydroxide for rechargeable battery materials. With an annual production capacity of 43,000 tonnes, PPLS is positioned as a key supplier to South Korea’s battery materials industry and one of the few lithium chemicals producers outside China.

Contact

장아론 Ahron Jang, 마케팅그룹, 과장 Marketing Group, Manager, litron@poscolithium.com

Metalshub is a leading platform provider for the metals and mining industry. By leveraging advanced technology and market expertise, Metalshub provides digital solutions for buyers and sellers to connect, negotiate, and close transactions. With its innovative solutions, Metalshub empowers 3,000+ businesses to optimise supply chains, make informed decisions, and drive growth in the digital era. Its platform enables sellers to provide provenance, carbon footprint and ESG information to its customers in an auditable form, leading to qualification for key target market regulations.

Contact

Chenyu Zhao, Growth Lead, chenyu.zhao@metals-hub.com