Solar container lithium battery pack foreign trade trend

How much battery material does China Import & Export?

China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, according to regional UN Comtrade data.

Will China be dependent on lithium imports in 2025?

Provided that significant technological advancements or changed consumer preferences lead to a substantial decrease in battery capacity requirements, China may not be dependent on lithium imports in 2025 (S5 and S6). This would also unlock exports for other countries.

Can domestic lithium supply satisfy Future EV batteries' lithium demand?

The growth of domestic lithium production in China, Europe, and the USA underscores the importance of determining to what extent domestic supply can satisfy future EV batteries’ lithium demand and whether imports will be necessary. Given that lithium is also used in other sectors such as glassmaking, an analysis of how lithium is used is warranted.

What drives lithium demand?

Lithium demand is primarily driven by total battery storage capacity (kWh), which remains similar across different battery chemistries.15 Battery capacity per vehicle is variable, influenced by technology and user preferences.