Company: SQM
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0000909037-25-000020
Chunk: 152

Company: CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 5
Chunk 152
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 methods of extraction, crystallization and finishing products have been developed. Technological advances in recent years have enabled us to improve process efficiency for the nitrate, potassium and lithium operations, particularly in sustain recoveries from the ore resources with dynamic or complex behaviour, improve the physical quality of our prilled products and reduce dust emissions and caking by applying specially designed additives to our products handled in bulk. Our research and development efforts have also resulted in new, value-added markets for our products. One example is the use of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate as thermal storage in solar power plants.
Among the main projects worked on during 2024 in the SQM- Iodine-Plant Nutrition Division were:
•Water use efficiency: Development of a molecule that enhances water use efficiency, applied either directly or in combination with a line of soluble products.
•Nutrient use efficiency: A molecule that improves phosphorus absorption efficiency.
•Use of iodine in agriculture: Development of the Ultrasoline line. Iodine is part of various plant proteins and activates multiple genes that trigger beneficial effects in plants, including increased yield, improved stress tolerance, enhanced earliness, root development, and more.
Among the main projects worked on during 2024 in the SQM Lithium Chile Division were:
Consolidation of information from 140 studies of new technologies and existing suppliers, scaling a total of 20 pilot tests. This information has allowed us to present the conceptual engineering design for Salar Futuro, including Direct Lithium Extraction, brine reinjection and gradual reduction of inland water use.
The engineering of these projects also includes significant improvements in lithium recovery at Salar de Atacama and the Lithium Chemical Plant in Antofagasta.
The Company has patented several production processes for nitrate, iodine and lithium products. These patents have been registered mainly in the United States of America, Chile and other countries, when necessary. The patents used in SQM's production processes are Chilean Patent No. 47,080 for iodine (production of spherical shaped granules for subliming products) and Japanese Patent No. 4,889,848 for nitrates (granular fertilizers).
During 2024, our research and development related expenditure totaled approximately US$8.7 million for the SQM Iodine -Plant Nutrition Division and US$19 million for the lithium-related divisions.
5.D.Trend Information
Our revenues decreased 39.4% to US$4,528.8 million in 2024