Feb 27 (Reuters) - Arcadium Lithium ( ARLTF ) posted a

loss in the fourth quarter on Thursday, as low prices of

lithium, used to power electric vehicle batteries, weighed on

the company.

Lithium prices have plunged more than 80% from its peak in

November 2022 after a supply glut and softening of aggressive EV

adoption rates.

Arcadium has agreed to sell itself to Rio Tinto,

which shareholders approved in January and is expected to close

by March 6.

Rio Tinto plans to create a standalone lithium division

after it completes the $6.7 billion acquisition, and the new

business would assume control of Rio's $2.5 billion Rincon

project in Argentina but not its controversial Jadar lithium

project in Serbia.

Arcadium Lithium ( ARLTF ) reported a net loss of $14.2 million, or a

loss of 1 cent per share, in the reporting quarter, compared

with a net income of $37.7 million, or 9 cents per share, in the

year-ago quarter.

Its revenue for the quarter was $289 million, higher than

estimates of $269.06 million.

For the whole year, it reported revenue of $1 billion,

compared with around $885 million in 2023. Analysts expected

full-year revenue of $986.6 million.

On overall volume of lithium sold, those of lithium

carbonate and hydroxide in 2024 were slightly lower from a year

earlier as weaker spodumene sales weighed, due to reduced

production at Mt. Cattlin in Western Australia.

Arcadium said last year it would put its Mt. Cattlin mine in

care and maintenance by the end of the first half of 2025 due to

the pricing downturn.

The Philadelphia-based company reported adjusted earnings

per share of 1 cent, in line with analysts' expectations

according to data compiled by LSEG.