Analysts Question FMC's Lithium Hydroxide Expansion

On Monday, FMC (NYSE:FMC) announced that it would accelerate the expansion of its lithium hydroxide capacity, stating that it had signed a multi-year supply agreement with an electric vehicle manufacturer.
However, lithium analysts and market watchers noted that the release was light on detail, even questioning the company’s ability to up its output.
FMC’s release states that it has previously announced plans to triple its hydroxide production capacity, with 4,000 metric tons per year to come online mid 2017. An additional 4,000 tons will now be added, brining the company’s total hydroxide capacity to 18,000 metric tons.
Chris Berry of House Mountain Partners and the Disruptive Discoveries Journal wanted more details on how the expansion would come about:

Wish there was more detail in this $FMC release on #lithium capacity expansion. Costs? Source of feedstock?

— Chris Berry (@cberry1) July 25, 2016

While Joe Lowry of Global Lithium wondered the same thing:

#Lithium hydroxide announcement today by $FMC very interesting but where are the details? “MFG network” code for tolling – raw mat source?? — Joe Lowry (@globallithium) July 25, 2016

In fact, Lowry was doubtful that the company would be able to increase its capacity at all:

#Lithium hydroxide announcement today by $FMC very interesting but where are the details? “MFG network” code for tolling – raw mat source?? — Joe Lowry (@globallithium) July 25, 2016

Tom Schneberger, vice president and global business director of FMC Lithium, stated in the release, “Our manufacturing network is highly flexible, which allows us to increase capacity or accelerate expansion plans as customer needs warrant.” But Lowry questioned:

If $FMC‘s #lithium manufacturing is “highly flexible” why did their last expansion fail? Why has their share dropped every year since 2010?
— Joe Lowry (@globallithium) July 25, 2016

Indeed, FMC reported lithium segment earnings of $23 million for 2015, compared with an adjusted EBITDA of $213 million for Albemarle’s lithium business.
Lowry has previously questioned whether FMC should still be considered one of the lithium “Big 3,” pointing out that “Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)/Rockwood and SQM (NYSE:SQM) make more profit in a quarter than FMC does in a year.”
Shares of FMC are up 22 percent year-to-date, trading at $47.88 per share, while competitors Albemarle and SQM are up 52 percent and 30 percent respectively.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article. 
Editorial Disclosure: Joe Lowry was employed by FMC from 1989 to 2012. His most recent title was Global Sales and Business Development Director — Lithium.