China's lithium supply surge fuels global clean‑energy trade shift

Lithium carbonate futures in China dropped about 10% to a ten‑week low after market speculation that battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) may restart its Jianxiawo hard‑rock lithium mine in Jiangxi Province. The mine, capable of producing roughly 46,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate a year (about 3% of global supply), still faces regulatory hurdles such as a renewed mining permit and approval for a large tailings dam.

At the same time, Chinese clean‑energy component exports to the United States have surged dramatically. Photovoltaic cell shipments rose 346% year‑on‑year, lithium‑ion battery exports climbed 20.8%, and lead‑acid battery shipments increased 151%. The growth is being driven by geopolitical tension over the Iran‑related oil shock and improving US‑China trade relations, highlighting China’s expanding dominance in the global clean‑energy supply chain.