Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects

    China’s grip on lithium to hit 39% by 2030: supply risks mapped for mine planners

    May 26, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    China’s grip on lithium to hit 39% by 2030: supply risks mapped for mine planners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    China is projected by Wood Mackenzie to control 39% of global lithium production by 2030 as Chinese capital backs projects such as Huayou Cobalt’s proposed acquisition of Atlantic Lithium and Hainan Mining’s investment in Kodal Minerals’ Bougouni project in Mali. Australia’s share of extraction is forecast to fall from 43% in 2020 to 25% by 2030 while Africa rises to about 13%, with most new African capacity financed from China. Europe is strengthening downstream control via refining and battery plants, including Vulcan Energy in Germany and Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber project in Finland, even as North American projects lag.

    Technical Brief

    • Wood Mackenzie’s Lens Metals & Mining platform tracks ownership versus production, evidencing the emerging divergence quantitatively.
    • Wood Mackenzie notes “few exceptions” to Chinese financing dominance across Africa’s pipeline of new lithium projects.
    • South America’s lithium share is projected to dip below 25% by 2030 despite ongoing project investment.
    • Europe’s strengthened position comes mainly from refining, battery manufacturing and recycling rather than direct mine ownership.
    • North American lithium projects are experiencing schedule slippage and cost pressures, slowing ramp‑up and weakening regional supply share.

    Our Take

    Wood Mackenzie’s separate long‑range outlook for lithium demand to 2050 already flags structural deficits from as early as 2028, so a 39% Chinese production grip by 2030 would give Chinese operators disproportionate pricing and offtake leverage just as the market tightens.

    Recent coverage of Trafigura’s 10‑year offtake from the US Smackover Lithium brine project suggests North American and European buyers are already trying to ring‑fence non‑Chinese supply, which becomes more strategically important if South America’s share slips below 25% and Chinese control rises toward WoodMac’s 39% projection.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Sandvik underground fleet at Kamoa-Kakula: haulage and maintenance lens for engineers

    Sandvik has secured an order from Kamoa Copper SA for 19 Toro® underground trucks and loaders for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, taking the site’s Sandvik underground fleet to more than 100 units. The equipment will support one of the world’s largest underground Sandvik fleets at a single mine, operated by the Ivanhoe Mines–Zijin Mining joint venture. For engineers, the scale signals sustained high-volume, trackless underground haulage and significant long-term demand for OEM parts, maintenance capacity, and fleet management systems.

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Metso Durarok™ primary sizer at Yenipazar mine: design and throughput notes for engineers

    Metso has secured a €25 million order from Aldridge Mineral Madencilik A.Ş., part of CVK Mining, to supply key minerals processing equipment for the Yenipazar polymetallic mine in Türkiye, including one of its first Durarok™ primary sizers. The package, booked in Metso’s Minerals segment for 2026, will support primary crushing and downstream processing for a deposit containing multiple base and precious metals. For engineers, early adoption of the Durarok™ sizer at Yenipazar will be a reference case for hard-rock primary sizing performance in Turkish conditions.

    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Volvo Autona / earth autonomous haulage: key takeaways for mine planners

    Volvo Autonomous Solutions has launched Autona / earth, a commercial autonomous haulage system for mines and quarries built around an autonomous Volvo FH truck and an in-house developed virtual driver. The package is delivered as Transport-as-a-Service, with Volvo providing the vehicle automation stack, site infrastructure, operational support and maintenance rather than selling trucks outright. The system is designed to plug into existing mine haulage operations, signalling a shift towards OEM-managed autonomous fleets where OEMs assume more responsibility for uptime and performance.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    QCDB-io

    Comprehensive quality control database for manufacturing, tunnelling, and civil construction with UCS testing, PSD analysis, and grout mix design management.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental