(Reuters) -Albemarle, the world's largest producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, posted a small quarterly loss on Wednesday due to sliding prices for the ultralight metal, although the company maintained its 2025 forecast.

The company reported a first-quarter net loss for common shareholders of $340,000, or zero cents per share, compared to a loss of $9.1 million, or 8 cents per share, in the year-ago period.