battery_metal · primary
Battery metal at the centre of the EV transition. Production has tripled since 2018 Australian spodumene + South American brine dominate. US output is climbing (Silver Peak NV; Thacker Pass under construction) but remains <2% of global supply.
Trade · cross-border
US import dependency
2021–2024 · USGS MCS54% of US imports from Chile · All
Provenance
Net import reliance · 2025
>50 net import reliantImport vs export balance · 2021–2025
USGS MCSLatest 2025: net importer
| Year | Imports | Exports | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.6K t | 1.9K t | +770 t |
| 2022 | 3.3K t | 2.4K t | +820 t |
| 2023 | 3.4K t | 2.0K t | +1.4K t |
| 2024 | 3.0K t | 1.7K t | +1.3K t |
| 2025 | 3.8K t | 2.0K t | +1.8K t |
Top global exporters · 2024
CEPII BACI · export valueExport restrictions
7 measures · OECD| Reporter | Measure | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | Licensing requirement | 24 |
| Argentina | Export tax | 20 |
| Brazil | Licensing requirement | 12 |
| Morocco | Licensing requirement | 12 |
| Madagascar | Licensing requirement | 12 |
| Madagascar | Other export measures | 12 |
| Zimbabwe | Export ban | 1 |
14 sources · click to verify
