Australian lithium miners say the astonishing rise in prices for the battery mineral has further to run as operational challenges, labour shortages and Western Australia’s border restrictions hamper the sector’s ability to seize on the boom.

Prices for Australia’s lithium-rich spodumene concentrate have more than quadrupled over the past 18 months and Pilbara Minerals says they could surge by a further 50 per cent by the end of March.