LAS VEGAS, June 25 (Reuters) - Albemarle, the

world's largest lithium producer, is concerned about current

prices for the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries but

believes long-term demand will remain strong, an executive said

on Tuesday.

The company, which operates across the Americas, Asia and

Australia, cut staff and paused expansion projects in January

after prices fell more than 81% in 2023.

"Lithium prices that we're facing at these levels are

concerning," Eric Norris, head of Albemarle's energy storage

business, told the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw

Materials Conference in Las Vegas. "But I believe the energy

transition is inevitable. Our long term demand projections (for

lithium) are just as robust that they've always been."