The midstream amplifier: Risk spillovers in China's lithium supply chain from mining to batteries

Abstract

The global energy transition has significantly increased the demand for lithium resources, raising market concerns about the stability of the global lithium supply chain. Understanding the relationships among different commodities within this supply chain is crucial for managing associated risks. In this study, we apply a time-varying parameter vector autoregression model to investigate the spillover effects and dynamic dependency of price volatility across the lithium supply chain. Our results reveal a high degree of systemic risk among lithium supply chains. Specifically, the risk spillover from the midstream segment to the upstream segment is the strongest and increasing, while the risk spillover to the downstream segment is the weakest and showing a downward trend. Additionally, the midstream serves as the primary net transmitter of price shocks, whereas the upstream and downstream segments more often act as net receivers. We identify two main pathways for the spillover of price shocks: one from the midstream to the upstream and then to the downstream, and another directly from the midstream to the downstream. These findings are important for mitigating the accumulation of risks within the lithium supply chain.