Lithium deficit strains investments of US$15.9bn in Latin America

A group of 27 lithium projects, including greenfield and brownfield developments in Latin America, involving investments of US$15.9 billion, are expected to start production, expand or increase processing rates between this year and 2030, amid growing pressure on global supply. The portfolio aims to supply a market showing signs of a deficit projected between 2026 and 2035, creating a challenging …

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Canada Just Opened North America’s First Electrochemical Lithium Refinery

China has been consolidating its control over global lithium supplies for years now. As the lithium-ion battery sector continues to grow at a massive pace, the extreme concentration of lithium supply chains gives China a major economic and geopolitical advantage. It also creates worrying vulnerabilities for the rest of the world that has come to rely on imports of the …

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Lithium market to enter deficit until 2035: Canaccord

The global lithium market is set to enter a near-decade-long deficit as a lack of mine investment weighs on supply of the electric vehicle battery metal, according to investment bank Canaccord Genuity. In a note published Wednesday, Canaccord analysts said they expect to see a “material market deficit” starting this year, given that a tightening supply has more than offset …

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Finland faces trade risk from reliance on China imports

Finland faces rising exposure to global trade disruption due to heavy reliance on imports from China, with lithium-ion batteries identified as a key point of concern, according to a new report published on Monday. The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy said nearly 38 per cent of Finland’s imports classified as vulnerable came from China in 2024. The study forms part of a …

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Inside the Race to Control the World’s Lithium Supply

The world is ramping up its lithium production in a bid to meet the growing global demand for critical minerals, being driven by renewable energy deployment and the higher uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and other electronics. Lithium production from mining increased from 31,500 metric tonnes in 2015 to 82,500 tonnes in 2020 and 290,000 tonnes in 2025. While China …

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US and allies push rare earths, lithium supply chains but structural hurdles remain

Efforts by the United States and allied nations to rebuild critical mineral supply chains are progressing, but structural and market challenges are keeping the industry on an uneven footing, according to a Jefferies report. Rare earth magnet capacity in the US is expanding from a near-zero base, while lithium markets are shifting from surplus toward a tighter carbonate balance by …

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How Europe Is Racing to Secure Lithium Supply with New Mining Efforts

Lithium is emerging as a strategic resource, pushing Europe to develop domestic mining and reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral supply chains. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has become increasingly focused on the strategic implications of concentrated supply chains. Lithium is emerging as a resource for the 21st-century economy, with an importance comparable to that of petroleum in the 20th …

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India, Canada launch defense dialogue, sign pacts in critical minerals, uranium supply

Pacts signed as Indian Premier Narendra Modi hosted Canadian Premier Mark Carney for bilateral talks in New Delhi. NEW DELHI India and Canada on Monday launched a defense dialogue and signed agreements in several areas, including uranium supply and critical minerals, following bilateral talks in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney …

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Copper, lithium unlikely to match gold’s gains as output rises: Goldman

Producers across the world are likely to ramp up output of commodities such as copper and lithium, limiting the kind of runaway price gains seen in gold even as markets anticipate a prolonged rally in raw materials, Goldman Sachs said. Gold has surged to record highs, while a range of other commodities have also climbed, as governments and investors seek …

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China Opens Lithium Market to Overseas Investors

China will open up futures markets for 14 commodities, including lithium carbonate and nickel, to foreign investors, Bloomberg reported today, citing a statement by the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The move comes a few days after reports emerged that Beijing plans to launch liquefied natural gas futures priced in yuan. The Shanghai Futures Exchange has sought for years to launch yuan-denominated futures …

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