The article discusses the latest developments in the global lithium industry, particularly in the U.S., as of June 2011. It reports that the U.S. is the leading importer of lithium carbonate and the top producer of value-added lithium materials. Among the firms that produce lithium products are Chemetall Foote Corp. in the U.S., the Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA (SQM) in Chile, and Talison Minerals in Australia.