WA lithium miners have been smashed in Tuesday morning trade on the Australian Securities Exchange following reports that big a Chinese battery maker has moved a step closer to restarting a shuttered mine.

Liontown Resources had shed 9.4 per cent to 89.2¢ by 10.45am, while PLS (formerly Pilbara Minerals) dropped 7.7 per cent to $2.32.

IGO, still contenting with a troubled-plagued lithium hydroxide plant in Kwinana, slipped 3.5 per cent to $5 and Mineral Resources lost 4.5 per cent to $39.27.

Shares in key global producers including Albemarle and SQM also retreated in overnight trade.

The declines came after Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Chinese authorities had green-lit the reserve report for CATL’s Jianxiawo lithium mine.

Production at the site has been halted since August after

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