China Becomes Second-Largest Holder of Global Lithium Reserves

New discoveries and extraction techniques propel China's share of global lithium reserves from 6% to 16.5%, reducing dependency on imports.

China's lithium reserves have nearly tripled, now accounting for 16.5% of the global total, second only to Chile.
The discovery of a 2,800-kilometer spodumene lithium belt in western China and expanded resources in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau contributed to the increase.
Innovative techniques have made it feasible to extract lithium from lepidolite, a previously difficult-to-process mineral with high lithium content.
China's growing lithium reserves are critical for its electric vehicle, energy storage, and electronics industries, reducing reliance on foreign imports.
The global lithium market may see a more balanced supply as China strengthens its domestic resource base.