Lithium material flow analysis in international trade: A life cycle perspective

Abstract

From a life cycle perspective, the material flow analysis is utilized to investigate the lithium material flows in international trade from 2000 to 2019. The results reveal that at the global level, the total volume of lithium trade grew rapidly, reaching 121116 t in 2019. Lithium trade was dominated by lithium minerals, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide rather than final lithium products, indicating an immaturity in global lithium industry. At the intercontinental level, Asia's import trade and Oceania's export trade led the world, accounting for 81.22% and 39.68%, respectively. At the national level, China, Japan and Korea became the main importers, while Chile and Australia were the main exporters. In addition, China's trade volume far exceeded that of the United States. China's exports were dominated by lithium-ion batteries, while the United States mainly imported lithium-ion batteries, proving that the development of China's lithium industry was relatively faster.