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MineralLink

Battery metals

Lithium (Li)

Lithium-ion batteries, ceramics and glass, lubricating greases.

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Atomic number
3
Period · group
2 · 1
Block
s-block

Why it is critical

Demand growth for batteries outpaces new supply; chemical conversion capacity is concentrated.

Who trades lithium

$12 bn of lithium products crossed borders in 2024: chemicals $6.5 bn · ores and concentrates $5.9 bn.

Largest exporters

  1. 1Australia$3.2 bn26%
  2. 2Chile$3.1 bn25%
  3. 3China$2.2 bn18%
  4. 4Zimbabwe$831 m7%
  5. 5Argentina$723 m6%
  6. 6United States of America$360 m3%
  7. 7Brazil$298 m2%
  8. 8Nigeria$163 m1%

Largest importers

  1. 1China$7.2 bn58%
  2. 2South Korea$2.2 bn17%
  3. 3Japan$933 m8%
  4. 4United States of America$291 m2%
  5. 5Germany$200 m2%
  6. 6Netherlands$192 m2%
  7. 7Belgium$136 m1%
  8. 8India$125 m1%

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.