** Shares of lithium miner Albemarle ALB.N up 2.3% at $59.90 after the bell

** Co reports a smaller-than-expected first quarter loss, helped by cost reduction efforts

** Quarterly adj. loss of 18 cents per share vs estimated loss of 59 cents per share - LSEG

** Co reports net loss attributable to Albemarle common shareholders at $340,000 vs loss of $9.1 million from a year earlier

** Up to last close, shares down 32% YTD

(Reporting by Tanay Dhumal in Bengaluru)

((Tanay.Dhumal@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter: https://twitter.com/TanayDhumal))