
René Muschter
Research Expert für Internationale Länderdaten
Battery minerals refer to the minerals that are used in rechargeable batteries. They are becoming increasingly crucial for the energy transition, as demonstrated by drastically increasing demand in recent years. Many of these minerals also overlap with what is being labeled as critical or strategic minerals. Depending on the composition of the battery, they can include lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, alumina, tin, tantalum, vanadium, magnesium, and rare earth minerals. Often, however, the term battery minerals is used to refer more concisely to lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite. Those make up the core of lithium-ion batteries, while other minerals such as copper and aluminum are used for the structure. Battery metals is also a commonly used term, which excludes the nonmetallic mineral graphite. The mining exploration of batteries worldwide has surged since 2022, with an annual budget of about 1.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023 and 2024.

Detailed statistics
Global share of cobalt demand 2024, by end-use

Detailed statistics
Lithium demand for clean energy purposes worldwide 2024, by use case

Detailed statistics
Global battery metals mining exploration budget 2010-2024

Global reserves of battery minerals 2025, by type
Reserves of battery minerals worldwide in 2025, by type (in million metric tons)

Global production volume of battery minerals 2024
Production volume of battery minerals worldwide in 2024 (in 1,000 metric tons)

Global battery metals mining exploration budget 2010-2024
Mining exploration budget for battery metals worldwide from 2010 to 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)

Global critical minerals production share 2024, by majority producing country
Production share of critical minerals worldwide as of 2024, by majority producing country

Global critical minerals mine production for batteries 2025, by main country
Mined production of critical raw minerals for batteries worldwide as of 2025, by largest producing country (in 1,000 metric tons and as share of total production)

Leading battery minerals M&A deals worldwide 2023-2024, based on value
Leading battery minerals merger and acquisition deals worldwide from 2023 to September 2024, based on value (in million U.S. dollars)

Global projected growth in metal demand for battery production 2028
Projected metal demand growth for battery production worldwide by 2028 (in percent)

Global cobalt reserves 2010-2025
Reserves of cobalt worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in million metric tons)

Global graphite reserves 2010-2024
Reserves of graphite worldwide from 2010 to 2024 (in million metric tons)

Global lithium reserves 2010-2025
Reserves of lithium worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in million metric tons)

Global manganese reserves 2010-2025
Reserves of manganese worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in million metric tons)

Global nickel reserves 2000-2025
Reserves of nickel worldwide from 2000 to 2025 (in million metric tons)

Global cobalt mine production 2010-2025
Mine production of cobalt worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in metric tons)

Global graphite mine production 2010-2025
Mine production of graphite worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000 metric tons)

Global lithium mine production 2010-2025
Mine production of lithium worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in metric tons of lithium content)

Global manganese mine production 2014-2025
Mine production of manganese worldwide from 2014 to 2025 (in 1,000 metric tons)

Global nickel production volume from mines 2010-2025
Mine production of nickel worldwide from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000 metric tons)

Production volume of cobalt globally 2023, by political stability of producers
Production volume of cobalt worldwide in 2023, by political stability of producer countries (in 1,000 metric tons)

Production volume of graphite globally 2023, by political stability of producers
Production volume of graphite worldwide in 2023, political stability of producer countries (in 1,000 metric tons)

Production volume of lithium globally 2023, by political stability of producers
Production volume of lithium oxide worldwide in 2023, by political stability of producer countries (in metric tons)

Production volume of manganese globally 2023, by political stability of producers
Production volume of manganese worldwide in 2023, by political stability of producer countries (in 1,000 metric tons)

Production of nickel globally 2024, by political stability of producer countries
Production volume of nickel worldwide in 2024, by political stability of producer countries (in 1,000 metric tons)

Global share of cobalt demand 2024, by end-use
Distribution of cobalt demand worldwide in 2024, by application

Global share of nickel consumption for batteries 2015-2024
Share of primary nickel consumption for batteries worldwide from 2015 to 2024

Global share of rare earth element consumption for batteries 2016-2024
Share of rare earth element consumption for batteries worldwide from 2016 to 2024

Graphite demand worldwide 2024, by use case
Demand for graphite worldwide in 2024, by use case (in 1,000 metric tons)

Lithium demand for clean energy purposes worldwide 2024, by use case
Global demand of lithium for the clean energy sector in 2024, by use case (in kilotons)

Forecast cumulative global mineral extraction and processing emissions 2050, by type
Forecast cumulative emissions from mineral extraction and processing* worldwide until 2050, by mineral type (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Raw materials recoverable from lithium-ion battery recycling by mineral 2030
Amount of key raw materials recoverable from lithium-ion battery recycling by 2030, by mineral (in 1,000 metric tons)

Global lifecycle emissions of electric and combustion vehicles 2024-2038, by stage
Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide under a Stated Policies Scenario from 2024 to 2038, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for lithium, by resource type and processing
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for lithium, by resource type and processing route (in tons of CO2 per tonne of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE))

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for nickel, by resource type and processing
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for class 1 nickel, by resource type and processing route (in tons of CO2 per tonne of Nickel)

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for selected energy transition minerals
Average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for the production of selected energy transition minerals (in tons of CO2 per tonne of metal content)

Water use for the production of selected energy transition minerals
Water use for the production of selected energy transition minerals (in cubic meters per kg)
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