Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

CL | Basic Materials | Chemicals - Specialty | NYSE

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A Brief History of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM)

Company Overview

SQM is a Chilean-based company founded in 1968, specializing in the production of specialty plant nutrients, iodine, lithium, potassium, and industrial chemicals.

Financial Performance

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Total Revenue $2.74 billion
Net Income $643 million
EBITDA $1.06 billion

Production Capabilities

  • Lithium Production: 140,000 metric tons per year
  • Iodine Production: 20,000 metric tons per year
  • Potassium Nitrate Production: 1.1 million metric tons per year

Global Market Position

Market Leadership: SQM is the world's second-largest lithium producer, controlling approximately 22% of the global lithium market as of 2024.

Operational Regions

  • Primary Operations: Atacama Desert, Chile
  • International Sales: Over 110 countries
  • Key Export Markets: China, United States, Europe

Stock Performance

Stock Exchange Ticker Symbol 2024 Stock Price
New York Stock Exchange SQM $55.67
Santiago Stock Exchange SQM-B CLP 29,500

Environmental Sustainability

Water Consumption Reduction: 35% reduction in water usage per ton of lithium produced between 2018-2023.

Strategic Investments

  • Lithium Expansion Project: $1.2 billion investment
  • Green Hydrogen Development: $300 million allocated
  • Renewable Energy Integration: 65% of energy from renewable sources


A Who Owns Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, SQM has a complex ownership structure with several significant shareholders:

Shareholder Ownership Percentage
Julio Ponce Lerou (through Inversiones Global Mining 29.41%
Treasum Asset Management 23.93%
Banco Itaú 11.76%
Banco Santander 10.09%

Major Institutional Shareholders

  • BlackRock Inc.
  • Vanguard Group
  • Capital Group Companies

Public Trading Information

SQM is publicly traded on:

  • Santiago Stock Exchange
  • New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SQM)

Regulatory Ownership Disclosure

The company's ownership is subject to Chilean corporate governance regulations and must disclose significant shareholding changes.



Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) Mission Statement

Company Overview

SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.) is a global specialty chemical and minerals company headquartered in Santiago, Chile. As of 2024, the company operates in multiple sectors with specific strategic focus areas.

Mission Statement Components

  • Sustainable production of lithium, potassium, and specialty plant nutrients
  • Global market leadership in specialty chemical and mineral solutions
  • Commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation

Financial Performance

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Total Revenue $2.97 billion
Net Income $637 million
EBITDA $1.12 billion

Key Production Metrics

Product Category Annual Production Volume
Lithium Carbonate 145,000 metric tons
Potassium Chloride 1.1 million metric tons
Specialty Plant Nutrients 420,000 metric tons

Global Market Presence

Key Geographic Markets: Chile, China, United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions

Strategic Focus Areas

  • Lithium production for electric vehicle batteries
  • Advanced agricultural nutrition solutions
  • Sustainable mineral extraction technologies

Sustainability Metrics

Sustainability Indicator 2023 Performance
Water Efficiency Improvement 22% reduction in water consumption
Carbon Emission Reduction 15% decrease compared to 2022


How Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) Works

Company Overview

SQM is a Chilean-based company specializing in the production of lithium, potassium, iodine, and specialty fertilizers. As of 2024, the company operates primarily in the Atacama Desert region of Chile.

Business Segments

Segment Revenue (2023) Key Products
Lithium & Derivatives $2.98 billion Lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide
Potassium $1.45 billion Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate
Iodine & Derivatives $632 million Industrial iodine, pharmaceutical iodine
Specialty Plant Nutrition $423 million Fertilizers, micronutrients

Lithium Production

SQM's lithium production capacity in 2024 is approximately 140,000 metric tons per year from its Atacama salt flat operations.

Key Production Facilities

  • Atacama Salt Flat Complex, Chile
  • Industrial processing plant in Antofagasta
  • Research and development center in Santiago

Financial Performance

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Total Revenue $5.48 billion
Net Income $1.23 billion
EBITDA $1.67 billion
Market Capitalization $12.6 billion

Global Market Position

SQM is the second-largest lithium producer globally, with approximately 20% of the world's lithium market share in 2024.

Export Markets

  • China: 45% of total exports
  • United States: 22% of total exports
  • Europe: 18% of total exports
  • Other regions: 15% of total exports

Sustainability Initiatives

SQM has committed to reducing water consumption by 50% and carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 in its production processes.



How Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

SQM generates revenue through four primary business segments:

Segment 2023 Revenue (USD) Primary Products
Lithium and Derivatives $2.86 billion Battery-grade lithium compounds
Potassium $1.02 billion Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate
Iodine and Derivatives $456 million Industrial and pharmaceutical iodine
Industrial Chemicals $312 million Sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate

Lithium Production Capacity

SQM's lithium production capacity in 2024:

  • 180,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually
  • Salar de Atacama production site in Chile covers 48,000 hectares
  • Market share of approximately 24% in global lithium production

Geographic Revenue Distribution

Region Percentage of Sales
China 42%
Asia (excluding China) 25%
Europe 18%
Americas 15%

Financial Performance

Key financial metrics for 2023:

  • Total revenue: $4.65 billion
  • Net income: $1.23 billion
  • EBITDA: $1.87 billion
  • Gross margin: 47.3%

Key Customers

Major customer segments:

  • Electric vehicle battery manufacturers
  • Agricultural fertilizer companies
  • Electronics manufacturers
  • Pharmaceutical industries

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