Lithium stocks are getting clobbered so far in 2023. As is the case with all basic materials and mining companies, the price for the element -- a key ingredient in batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles (EVs) -- is highly sensitive to even small changes in supply and demand. Because of economic uncertainty in the year ahead, and supply of lithium catching up with and perhaps even exceeding demand, the price of lithium has fallen nearly 60% from its all-time highs in recent months.