China has become the world’s second-largest holder of lithium, increasing its global share from 6% to 16.5%. This rise has allowed China to surpass major lithium-rich countries like Australia, Argentina, and Bolivia.
This growth is largely due to new discoveries, such as a major spodumene belt found in Tibet and extensive lithium deposits in salt lakes located on the Tibetan Plateau. Additionally, China has developed advanced technologies for lithium extraction, including methods to process lepidolite, which have further boosted its reserves. Promising new lithium resources have also been identified in regions like Jiangxi, Hunan, and Inner Mongolia.
These advancements are expected to help China reduce its dependence on imported lithium. They also strengthen the country’s position as a key player in the production of electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies, both of which rely heavily on lithium.
