Where does the US get its lithium-ion batteries?

The Global Journey of US Lithium-Ion Batteries

When you plug in your phone, laptop, or electric car, the energy powering it usually comes from a remarkably well-traveled battery. The supply chain behind American lithium-ion batteries is a truly global operation, spanning multiple continents before the final product ever reaches store shelves.

Right now, the United States relies heavily on raw materials extracted from abroad. The journey typically begins thousands of miles away in South America and Australia, where massive salt flats and hard-rock mines yield raw lithium. Once mined, this material rarely heads straight to American factories. Instead, it is usually shipped across oceans to China, which dominates the complex processing and manufacturing stages required to turn raw lithium into finished battery cells.

By the time a battery is fully assembled and ready for use in the U.S., its components have often crossed at least two other continents. This international route highlights just how interconnected global manufacturing is, and why securing domestic supply chains has become such a major focus for the future of clean energy and technology.