Unveiling the nexus between products and influential countries in the multi-layer trade network of global lithium battery

Abstract

Amid the accelerating global transition to renewable energy and the surge in electric vehicle adoption, ensuring the stability of the lithium battery supply chain has become a critical priority. This study explores the complex relationships between products and influential countries within the global lithium battery supply chain through a multi-layer trade network framework. By constructing a comprehensive network model that spans upstream minerals, midstream materials, and downstream batteries, we analyze the evolving dynamics of trade and influence from 2002 to 2022. The findings emphasize the growing centrality of lithium as a critical resource, with its influence steadily rising in both supply and demand dimensions. Furthermore, trade connections in the downstream battery layer are more robust, yet increasingly dependent on a few dominant players, particularly China, the European Union, and the United States. While China’s influence as a leading producer and exporter continues to expand, yet the declining diversity in its import structure poses risks of supply disruptions. Thus, there is urgent need for countries to diversify supply channels and closely monitor policy changes in major lithium-producing nations to ensure global supply chain stability. These findings provide important insights for understanding and optimizing the stability of the global lithium battery supply chain and provide fundamental knowledge for future research on risk transmission in the lithium battery supply chain.