Global Lithium Supply Chain

The global lithium supply chain involves extracting lithium, a metal crucial for batteries, from sources like mineral deposits and salt flats. It is then processed into usable forms, such as lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, through refining. These materials are shipped worldwide to battery manufacturers and electric vehicle companies, which incorporate lithium into batteries. This process relies on mining, refining, and manufacturing, with supply and demand influenced by factors like mining rates, technological advances, and environmental considerations. The chain is vital for enabling renewable energy storage and the green transition but faces challenges like resource sustainability and geopolitical factors.