commodity

Lithium

The lightest metal and the core of every lithium-ion battery. Mined as hard-rock spodumene or pumped as brine, then refined mostly in China.

Figures checked 1 November 2026Next check Feb 2027, after USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2027

Key figures

Each figure shows where it comes from and which year it describes.

~290,000 t

of lithium was mined in 2025, excluding the US, up 31% on 2024.

32%

of mined lithium came from Australia. China mined 21% and Chile 19%.

+20%

growth in world lithium consumption in 2025, to about 263,000 t.

Feb 2027

is when the EU battery passport becomes mandatory for EV and industrial batteries.

Interactive · 6 stages

Six stages from spodumene ore and brine to electric vehicles, with lithium content and the record that moves at each handover.

What changed on this page, and when.

Feb 2027
Scheduled
Check production figures against USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2027.
1 Nov 2026
Published
Page published with the supply chain explainer and key figures from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.

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