The US is sanctioning China again,and China has said it will do likewise.What if Lithium is one China decides to restrict?Look at this chart,and notice China has a controlling interest in Chile Lithium....and this Forbes article......China Looks to Control Global Lithium Supplyhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2018/07/11/trade-war-with-china-exposes-u-s-mineral-import-problem/#6c8ef59e2104 BY FAN YU, EPOCH TIMES May 20, 2018 Updated: May 20, 2018 China is slowly amassing control over the global supply of lithium, an important mineral in the production supply chain of new technologies.
On May 17, China-based Tianqi Lithium paid more than $4 billion to purchase a sizable stake in Chile’s Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), one of the world’s biggest producers of lithium. Tianqi bought the stake in SQM from Canadian fertilizer company Nutrien.
Lithium is a critical mineral for production of high-capacity batteries, those powering the world’s smartphones, electric cars, and renewable energy grids. Expected global production of electric cars is expected to dramatically increase demand for lithium. Whoever controls the production of lithium has great influence over the price and supply chain for these emerging technologies.............................TABLE 3 U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF LITHIUM CHEMICALS, BY COMPOUND AND COUNTRY1
2014 2015 Gross weight Value2 Gross weight Value2 Compound and country (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) Lithium carbonate: Argentina 3,350 $15,100 7,290 $34,200 Canada 10 21 10 25 Chile 5,940 r 26,300 r 5,510 23,400 China 283 861 71 196 Italy -- -- 13 41 Other -- r -- r (3) 13 Total 9,580 r 42,300 r 12,900 57,900 Total lithium content 1,800 XX 2,420 XX Lithium carbonate, U.S.P.:4 India 48 1,090 29 765 Italy (3) 9 2 9 Total 48 1,100 31 774 Total lithium content 9 XX 6 XX Lithium hydroxide and oxide: Chile 1,730 11,000 1,580 11,100 China 133 937 230 1,820 Germany (3) 14 4 33 Japan 25 r 123 r 7 42 Korea (3) 4 80 97 Norway 18 38 3 7 Romania -- -- 34 185 Russia -- -- 21 150 United Kingdom 11 62 2 117 Other (3) 3 r 2 22 Total 1,920 12,200 1,960 13,600 Total lithium content 316 XX 324 XX rRevised. XX Not applicable. -- Zero.- 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Customs value. 3Less than - unit. 4Pharmaceutical-grade lithium carbonate. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.