The alleged abuses attributed to all companies range from attacks on activists to violations of environmental laws to forced relocations.

Livent posted a net profit of $53.2 million for the first quarter, compared with a loss of $800,000 a year earlier.

Mexico's Congress last month passed a bill to nationalize lithium, tightening control of strategic mineral resources.

Grants will be made available to produce key battery metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.

The cells in the average battery with a 60 kilowatt-hour (kWh) capacity contained roughly 185 kilograms of minerals.

CATL increased its market position to 35% in March.

The stronger-than-expected increase comes as Chile’s economy cools following last year’s record growth of 11.7%.