According to data from the CPCA, lithium battery exports reached 926,000 mt in January-February 2026, up 63%, while export value rose 43% to $14.2 billion. The export price of lithium-ion batteries fell from $27,300/mt in 2023 and $20,100/mt in 2024 to $15,700/mt, and further to $15,300/mt in 2026. The average price in 2026 declined only 10% YoY, a marked improvement from the 26% drop in 2024 and the 22% drop in 2025.

[ION Minerals Expands Its Lithium Resources Footprint in Texas and Saskatchewan] ION Minerals said it had achieved a major expansion of its diversified lithium resources portfolio in the US and Canada. In a late-March news release, the Houston-based company said the expanded land footprint was achieved through prudent acquisitions, targeted leasing, and focused geological assessments. ION now controls more than 280,000 acres across three project areas, further cementing its position as a leading developer of critical lithium resources for the North American battery supply chain. Smackover is a subsurface geological formation stretching from Florida to Texas and is rich in lithium brine. Source: https://www.mining.com/ [EnergyX's "Lone Star" Project Revolutionizes Domestic Lithium Production in the US] EnergyX's groundbreaking "Lone Star" project marked a major milestone in the US pursuit of critical minerals independence through advanced direct lithium extraction technology. This pioneering facility is the first commercial-scale direct lithium extraction plant to enter operation in the US, addressing long-standing supply chain vulnerabilities while establishing an operational framework for domestic battery-grade lithium production. As demand for critical minerals accelerates amid the global energy transition, the project demonstrates how innovative extraction technologies can transform regional resources into strategic assets. Direct lithium extraction differs fundamentally from traditional mining methods, targeting subsurface brine rather than hard-rock deposits or surface evaporation systems. EnergyX's "Lone Star" project demonstrated this approach through its GET-Lit™ technology, which uses advanced filtration and chemical separation processes to treat brine from the Smackover formation. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/ [University of Surrey Develops a Lithium-Ion Battery Anode to Enhance Energy Storage] Researchers at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) developed a new-type battery design that could significantly extend EV driving range. In a study published in ACS Applied Energy Materials, the researchers introduced a lithium-ion battery anode. The anode achieved one of the highest energy storage capacities reported to date in a silicon-carbon nanotube system, while remaining stable after hundreds of charge cycles. Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of devices in modern technology. Graphite is the most commonly used anode material, offering high stability but limited energy storage capacity. By contrast, silicon has a much higher capacity, but it expands during charging, causing cracking and performance degradation over time. Source: https://www.automotivepowertraintechnologyinternational.com/

Researchers at Chungnam National University have developed next-generation zinc batteries using artificial polymer nanolayers to significantly improve stability. This novel protective coating helps prevent dendrite formation and reduces unwanted side reactions, enhancing the overall reliability and practicality of zinc-ion batteries. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are increasingly being recognized as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Although LIBs remain the dominant energy storage solution, they pose safety concerns due to their use of flammable organic electrolytes. In comparison, aqueous ZIBs rely on water-based electrolytes, making them non-flammable, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper.

On March 16, the Longwan District Bureau of Ecology and Environment released the environmental impact assessment public notice for the "Spent Power Battery Dismantling and Standardized Cascade Utilization Project" undertaken by a battery energy company in Wenzhou. The project primarily involves battery assembly processes. It will add an annual capacity for cascade utilization of 5,000 tons of spent lithium-ion batteries, which are primarily used for base station backup power and energy storage systems.

On March 20, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the environmental impact assessment approval process for construction projects, the Jiujiang Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment planned to accept the environmental impact assessment documents for the "Ruichang City Lithium New Energy Battery Material Regeneration Production Project" undertaken by a company in Jiangxi. The core content of the project is to construct a comprehensive project for the precise recycling and regeneration of spent lithium battery materials, with a planned annual processing capacity of 38,000 tons of spent lithium-ion batteries. This includes 2 precise dismantling and material regeneration lines for lithium iron phosphate, with an annual processing capacity of 20,000 tons;

Recently, the People's Government of Longwan District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, released the environmental impact assessment public notice for the "Spent Power Battery Dismantling and Standardized Cascade Utilization Project" undertaken by a battery energy company in Wenzhou. According to the public notice, a battery energy company in Wenzhou will utilize its existing factory building to construct 2 cascade utilization dismantling production lines, primarily for battery dismantling and testing processes. It will also construct 1 CTP production line (module, pack assembly line) in Min'ke Base Yongxing Nanyuan, Wenzhou, primarily for battery assembly processes. This will add an annual capacity for cascade utilization of 5,000 tons of spent lithium-ion batteries.

[Australia’s Atlantic Lithium Secured Ghanaian Parliamentary Approval to Develop the Ewoyaa Project] Australia’s Atlantic Lithium secured approval from Ghana’s parliament to develop the Ewoyaa project—the country’s first lithium mine—under revised royalty terms linked to market prices. The approved 15-year lease introduced a sliding royalty scale for spodumene concentrates, set at 5% when prices are below $1,500/mt and 12% when they exceed $3,200/mt, replacing Ghana’s previous fixed 10% rate. The new structure followed broader reforms to the lithium and gold royalty framework passed earlier this month, paving the way for the project. The approval formally backed plans for the mine and processing plant, enabling Atlantic Lithium to advance financing discussions and move toward a final investment decision. The project had stalled after lithium prices pulled back from their peak at the end of 2022, prompting the company to push for more flexible fiscal terms. According to the company, Ewoyaa is expected to produce 3.6 million mt of lithium ore concentrates over 12 years, making it Africa’s third-largest lithium project under development. Atlantic Lithium said the project is the only lithium mine development project on the African continent aligned with the US, standing in sharp contrast to other projects backed by Chinese investment. Half of Ewoyaa’s production has been committed to Elevra Lithium, the merged entity of Piedmont Lithium and Sayona Mining, which had previously signed offtake agreements with Tesla and LG Chem. Company executives said details of the work completed in H2 2025 to improve project economics amid continued lithium price fluctuations and help define the next stage of development will be announced soon. Source: https://www.mining [Yahua Group Signed a Five-Year Spodumene Concentrates Procurement Agreement] Yahua Group announced on March 25 that it recently signed an Offtake and Sales Agreement with MGLIT EMPREENDIMENTOS LTDA (“MGLIT” or the “seller”), under which Yahua Group will purchase spodumene concentrates from MGLIT for five years after MGLIT achieves stable production of spodumene concentrates. In each contract year, the seller shall sell and deliver to Yahua Group no less than 120,000 dry metric tons of spodumene concentrates products. The signing of the agreement will provide multi-channel resource security for the company’s production of lithium chemical products. Source: https://www.cls.cn/telegraph [Atacama Salt Lake Expansion Will Drive Chile’s Lithium Production Growth in 2026] Chile is the world’s second-largest lithium producer after Australia. The country’s lithium metal production is expected to rise 10.1% in 2025 to 64,100 mt, mainly supported by higher production from SQM’s Atacama salt lake operations, driven by ongoing capacity expansion. Chile’s lithium production mainly consists of lithium carbonate sourced from brine in the Atacama salt lake in the Antofagasta Region. SQM and Albemarle are the country’s two major lithium producers, underscoring the high concentration of Chile’s lithium production landscape. Looking ahead, as capacity expansion continues to advance, supported by sustained growth in supply from the Atacama salt lake mine, the country’s lithium production is expected to increase by a further 4.9% in 2026 to 67,300 mt. Source: https://www.mining-technology.com/ [Exide Industries Announces Major Investment in Lithium-Ion Battery Cell Manufacturing] Strategic Investment Positioning in the Evolution of India’s Battery Manufacturing Industry Exide Industries’ investment in lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing marks a pivotal moment for India’s battery manufacturing ecosystem. Traditional energy storage enterprises must navigate between the mature lead-acid battery market and emerging opportunities in lithium-ion batteries. The transformation of this industry reflects broader changes in the global energy storage landscape, driven by the electrification trend. The electrification trend demands higher energy density, faster charging capability, and longer cycle life, performance metrics that traditional battery chemistries cannot meet. In addition, the systematic approach to capital deployment in India’s lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing sector reflects a mature investment pace aligned with production milestones and stages of market development. Recent industry developments indicate that established battery manufacturers are using multi-stage financing structures to maximize operational flexibility while minimizing execution risk as much as possible. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/

Jiujiang Tinci High-Tech Materials has received regulatory approval for its 500,000-ton/year electrolyte project. With a total investment of 542 million yuan, the facility will be located in the Jiujiang Hukou High-Tech Industrial Park, Jiangxi. The project features a dual-track production layout: 450,000 tons/year for lithium-ion batteries and 50,000 tons/year for sodium-ion batteries. Construction is scheduled to commence in March 2026 and reach completion by December 2026, signaling a significant scale-up in the sodium-ion battery supply chain.

Tianpu Technology's lithium-ion battery and system intelligent manufacturing project had a total investment of 10.5 billion yuan and was located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. The project will build production lines with annual capacity of 50 Gwh for lithium-ion batteries and energy storage container systems, along with related supporting facilities.

POSCO Future M, the battery materials unit of South Korea's POSCO Holdings, announced that it had signed a supply agreement for artificial graphite anode material used in lithium-ion batteries. The contract is worth KRW 1,014,945,300,000 (approximately $675 million). The counterparty is a global automaker, and the contract term runs from October 1, 2027 to September 30, 2032.