Battery and energy-storage materials
BOTTLENECKChina dominates chemical refining and precursor production for lithium-ion inputs, capturing most downstream value before cell assembly.
Raw materials for lithium-ion batteries are extracted and refined to chemical precursors: lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, plus electrolyte and separator inputs. This node covers only mined and chemically converted inputs; battery cells and finished grid storage sit upstream in L1. China dominates chemical refining and precursor production, capturing most downstream value before cell assembly.
Extraction, refining, and chemical processing of lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, and other materials required for lithium-ion battery cells and energy storage systems; battery cells and the grid-scale BESS asset itself are in L1.
What the evidence shows
In 2025, lithium-ion held 88.05% of the battery energy storage system market share.
mordorintelligence.comChina's October 2025 export restrictions on >300 Wh/kg batteries are accelerating Western domestic production.
globenewswire.comWho controls it
No independently verified market-size figure is published for this node yet.
Where it sits in the stack
Takes in: Ore, brine, petroleum coke, process chemicals, energy
Sends on: Battery-grade LiOH, Li2CO3, CoSO4, NiSO4, MnSO4, spherical graphite, electrolyte solvents and salts, separator film
Related nodes
Full scorecard, owner shares, supply edges and the full tracked roster are in the desk letter.
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