Lithium
About Lithium
Lithium is the lightest metal and the cornerstone of the rechargeable battery revolution powering electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. Demand is projected to increase severalfold by 2030 as global EV adoption accelerates. The lithium supply chain spans hard rock mining in Australia and brine extraction in South America's Lithium Triangle, with China dominating downstream processing.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Li
- Atomic Number
- 3
- Category
- Battery Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- Australia
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Lithium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Lithium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Lithium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Lithium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Lithium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Lithium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Lithium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Lithium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Lithium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Lithium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Lithium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Lithium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Lithium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.