Lithium supply chain supply chain chokepoints

category tradeable chokepoint

How scores are shown

Criticality comes from the trace model and describes the node's dependency importance.

Evidence comes from the canonical Vein Graph: AI assertions, user corrections, and external sources.

Completeness is a data-coverage label based on available summary, evidence, sources, tickers, and chokepoint rationale.

Dynamic claims are capped below 100% and AI-only edges remain labeled as inferred. Model: trace-score-v1.

⚠ Hidden chokepoints found

Lithium brine extraction90% confidence — Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia hold the majority of low-cost brine resources; permitting and water rights constrain expansion.

Direct lithium extraction (DLE)83% confidence — Commercial DLE capacity remains limited; reagent and resin supply is concentrated.

Lithium hydroxide conversion90% confidence — China dominates spodumene conversion; Western refinery build-out lags mine supply.

Water & renewable power90% confidence — Arid salars face community and regulatory pressure on water use.

Lithium-ion battery supply chainBattery materials

From brine and hard-rock mines through chemical conversion to battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide.

Criticality: unknownEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: thin

Lithium brine extractionMining⚠ chokepoint

Evaporation ponds and DLE projects in the Lithium Triangle and other salars.

Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia hold the majority of low-cost brine resources; permitting and water rights constrain expansion.90% confidence

SQM—SQMstock

ProducerSupplies into this nodeSupply-chain context only — not investment advice.

ALB—Albemarlestock

ProducerSupplies into this nodeSupply-chain context only — not investment advice.

Criticality: highEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: partial

Direct lithium extraction (DLE)Processing⚠ chokepoint

Ion-exchange and adsorption technologies to bypass multi-year evaporation cycles.

Commercial DLE capacity remains limited; reagent and resin supply is concentrated.83% confidence

Criticality: mediumEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: partial

— core tradeable element

Spodumene hard-rock miningMininghigh criticality

Australian and African pegmatite mines producing lithium concentrate for China conversion.

PLS.AX—Pilbara Mineralsstock

ProducerSupplies into this nodeSupply-chain context only — not investment advice.

Criticality: highEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: partial

Lithium hydroxide conversionRefining⚠ chokepoint

Conversion of spodumene concentrate to battery-grade hydroxide for NMC cathodes.

China dominates spodumene conversion; Western refinery build-out lags mine supply.90% confidence

Criticality: highEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: partial

— core tradeable element

Reagents & sulfuric acidChemicalsmedium criticality

Sulfuric acid, soda ash, and lime consumed in brine and hard-rock processing routes.

Criticality: mediumEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: thin

— core tradeable element

Water & renewable powerUtilities⚠ chokepoint

Freshwater allocation and grid power for pumps, evaporation, and conversion plants.

Arid salars face community and regulatory pressure on water use.90% confidence

Criticality: highEvidence: UnverifiedCompleteness: partial

— core tradeable element

Sector templates

Generated analysis — not investment advice.

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