The leaders of the G7 nations will gather in Japan this week on the heels of an April meeting where G7 Ministers agreed to a historic five-point “action plan” to secure the critical minerals that will support the clean energy transition. The plan calls for mapping of long-term supply and demand of critical minerals, the development of responsible supply chains, prioritization of minerals recycling, investment in resource-saving and substitute technologies, and preparation for supply disruptions.

At the center of the global conversation on critical minerals security is lithium, which is a key component in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.

To help inform these ongoing discussions about the current and future state of the global lithium industry, Silverado Policy Accelerator is releasing a new report examining data on lithium supply, demand, and trade. The report includes ten key take-aways about the current state and near-term trajectory of the global lithium market, followed by four key policy recommendations for the U.S. and its allies to act on to secure allied supply of this critical mineral. To accompany the report, Silverado is also releasing a new data set with key figures on the upstream lithium value chain.

As the report underscores, the global market for lithium is approaching an inflection point. As countries around the world seek to decarbonize their economies, demand for lithium is expected to rise rapidly — and the U.S. and its allies need to take steps now to anticipate that growth. At the same time, the U.S. and its allies need to be prepared to navigate the challenging geopolitical dynamics that structure the expanding lithium market, especially as the U.S. primary geopolitical competitor, China, continues to deepen its influence over key aspects of the market.