lithium

Zimbabwe's lithium exports earned US$782.2 million in the first half of 2026, reflecting a 229.8% increase and establishing lithium as the country's third-largest mineral export.

A commission co-chaired by Michelle Bachelet and Ivan Duque urges Latin American countries to avoid aligning with the United States or China and leverage their lithium and copper reserves for stronger negotiations, while noting constraints in security, technology, and infrastructure.

The US Department of Defense has canceled a tender to purchase lithium for its strategic stockpiles, highlighting challenges in securing critical minerals. The canceled plan involved a $300 million acquisition.

Novandino Litio, a joint venture between Codelco and SQM, has submitted a US$3 billion plan to extend lithium production at Chile’s Salar de Atacama until 2060. The Salar Futuro project entered Chile’s environmental review system and involves advanced technology for water management.

Chile's S&P IPSA rose 0.87% on July 31, 2026, with bank stocks surging while SQM declined due to lithium uncertainty.

Mexico's state lithium company LitioMX released a 2026-2030 institutional program focusing on lithium exploration and a small-scale battery pack plant. The plan emphasizes government control over lithium as a strategic resource but highlights budget constraints with no 2026 investment approved.

The UN is helping countries optimize the use of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper amid rising global demand driven by the transition to clean energy.

The WTO warns that surging demand for critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earths is driving conflict in resource-rich regions such as Congo and Sudan, where illegal mining fuels violence. However, the organization highlights an opportunity for these nations to leverage their mineral wealth for economic transformation through local processing, strengthened international law, and cooperative strategies to avoid being locked into low-value production.

The WTO warns that rising global demand for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt risks fueling conflict in resource-rich regions, particularly in Africa, but also presents an opportunity for economic transformation if managed through local processing and international cooperation. The UN highlights how mineral exploitation in Congo and Sudan has exacerbated violence, while urging resource-rich nations to leverage their reserves for inclusive growth.

SQM and Wesfarmers are expanding their Covalent Lithium joint venture by building a second concentrator in Western Australia, signaling confidence in long-term electric vehicle demand. The project underscores their commitment to the lithium market amid expectations of a rebound in EV-related industries.

Chile's S&P IPSA increased by 0.52% on July 22, 2026, driven by gains in SQM-B and BCI, while the peso weakened slightly. Copper prices stabilized after a challenging week for the lithium industry.

The U.S. and DRC signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in December 2025 granting preferential access to minerals like cobalt, copper, coltan, and lithium in exchange for security cooperation. A coalition of Congolese lawyers petitioned the Constitutional Court on 21 June 2025 to invalidate the agreement, claiming it was never submitted to the court.

China’s two largest lithium producers are projected to report up to 50-fold profit increases in the first half of the year due to global demand for energy independence. Tianqi Lithium estimates net profits between 2.85 billion yuan and 4.25 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year rise of 3,276% to 4,935%.

The global mining industry claims increased extraction of rare earth minerals is necessary to address climate change, but a new report highlights that demand is primarily driven by conventional industries, AI, and defense sectors. The rush to mine copper, lithium, cobalt, and other critical minerals is being fueled by these sectors rather than solely climate-related needs.

Japan has developed a method to recover up to 90% of lithium from used electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This advancement aims to improve resource efficiency and sustainability in the EV industry.

Chile and Argentina revived a binational mining treaty, positioning Chilean Pacific ports as the shortest route for Argentine copper and lithium to Asia.

Peru is promoting its Macusani plateau, which contains a major lithium discovery and Latin America's largest undeveloped uranium project, as a new hub for critical minerals. The initiative highlights the region's potential in uranium and lithium resources.

Chile's goods exports reached $60.354 billion between January and June, a 14.2% increase. Copper accounted for $30.236 billion (50.1% of total exports), while lithium exports surged to $3.218 billion, up 34.4% year-over-year.

The US Defense Agency is seeking to purchase up to $300 million worth of lithium. The procurement aims to secure a strategic resource critical for defense applications.

SQM-Codelco Venture is working to increase lithium production in Chile's Atacama Desert. The venture focuses on a brine pool at a Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) lithium mine located on the Atacama salt flat.

Codelco's minority stakes in other mining ventures are valued at $6.443 billion, with 86% concentrated in two entities: the NovaAndino lithium venture with SQM and a 29.5% stake in Anglo American Sur. The article suggests potential reasons for Codelco to sell some of these stakes.

Nigeria's lithium and copper reserves could play a key role in the clean energy transition by meeting demand for renewable energy technologies and retaining value within the country, according to a report.

Zimbabwe's policy of banning raw lithium exports and incentivizing local value addition has gained global support, according to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube. The policy was well received by investors and policymakers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in China.

Nigeria's lithium wealth may be contributing to violence and illegal exploitation as global demand for critical minerals rises. The article warns that bloodshed and displacement could become unintended consequences of Nigeria's resource extraction efforts.

Zimbabwe is processing lithium domestically for export after a Chinese-built plant shipped the continent's first lithium sulphate, supported by an export ban.

The Nigerian government announced the discovery of platinum, lithium, and rare earth deposits in Kaduna, which could strengthen the country's position in the global market for critical minerals used in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Chile's stock market declined as the peso weakened against the dollar, and lithium prices fell 5%. The IPSA index closed 1.21% lower, ending a three-day upward trend.

Argentina revised its Mining Investment Regime via Decree 482/2026, replacing 1993-era rules effective June 24. The new system streamlines imports by using a sworn declaration that automatically integrates with customs, eliminating prior authorization requirements.

Petrobras, Brazil's oil company, has partnered with the state development bank to research critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earths. The move marks a shift into battery metals and materials essential for wind turbines and electronics.

USA Rare Earth is responding to a lawsuit from MP Materials as competition intensifies. The article mentions lithium mining in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, where the state aims to attract investors for its lithium resources to meet demand for electric-vehicle batteries.

Nevada is experiencing economic growth as workers move from California due to significant lithium reserves. The mineral's rising value is linked to increasing demand for artificial intelligence technology.

The US Department of Defense has significantly increased spending on critical minerals like lithium, neodymium, and boron for military applications over the past decade, with $621 million in grants allocated between 2015 and 2025. Indigenous communities report concerns about expedited mining projects on their lands without consultation or environmental safeguards, particularly citing the Graphite Creek Project in Alaska.

The article highlights increased demand for lithium and market optimism as China approaches a busy season, which could drive up prices and industry activity.

SQM, the Chilean lithium giant, is exploring for copper with a US partner to diversify operations as lithium prices remain weak and copper demand increases.

Chile is investing between $2 billion and $3.5 billion in the Salar Futuro lithium project through NovaAndino Litio. The company plans to submit the environmental study for the project to Chile’s regulator in the second half of June 2026. The investment is among the largest in the global lithium industry.

The article outlines investment opportunities in Chile for 2026, highlighting the iShares MSCI Chile ETF (ECH) with a 0.59% expense ratio, the IPSA index's 56% return in 2025 and record performance in 2026, and Chile's role as a major producer of copper and lithium.

Chile's IPSA fell 0.30% to 10,273 on June 5, remaining the region's most resilient index despite declines in copper and lithium prices and a weaker peso driven by a dollar bid.

Mozambique will take a 15% stake in domestic mining ventures and ban exports of non-processed minerals to prioritize local processing. The policy aligns with similar moves in other African nations, including DR Congo and Zimbabwe, to increase government control over critical minerals like graphite, gold, copper, titanium, and tantalum. Experts warn that smelting and refining could introduce volatility into the value chain.

Africa's trade with China reached $275 billion in 2024, with China importing critical minerals like chromium, manganese, and lithium essential for electric vehicles and clean energy. However, declining Chinese infrastructure loans and rising debt servicing costs, with some African nations spending over 40% of public revenue on repayments, create fiscal strain. China's recent removal of tariffs on most African nations contrasts with U.S. tariff increases.

Atana Elements, a US start-up, has acquired exploration licences in Germany and Poland to drill for lithium beneath Volkswagen and BMW battery factories. The initiative aligns with Europe's goal to reduce reliance on China for critical resources.