Canada Tops China for Battery Supply Chain Potential
Mar 27, 2024
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Kwasi Ampofo from BNEF's team discusses Canada surpassing China in battery supply chain potential. Topics include ranking methodology, lithium market volatility, and Indonesian policy impact on nickel prices.
Canada topped China in the lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking due to its focus on sustainability and innovation.
ESG considerations and good governance are crucial in building resilient supply chains for electric vehicles.
Deep dives
Ranking of Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chains
The global lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking by B&E F evaluates 30 countries based on various criteria including raw material sourcing, battery manufacturing, ESG factors, and innovation. Canada emerged as the top-ranked country due to its focus on future sustainability and innovation, despite China leading the current supply chain. Canada's consistent performance across key categories and continuous improvement propelled its first-place position.
Environmental, Social, Governance Factors
ESG considerations, comprising metrics like carbon pricing, environmental health, corruption control, are vital in the ranking. The methodology developed in consultation with industry experts ensures alignment with auto companies, mining entities, and governments. By evaluating ESG practices at a country level, the ranking highlights the importance of sustainability and good governance in building resilient supply chains.
Africa's Progress in Raw Materials Sector
In the context of the ranking, Africa, including Morocco, DRC, and South Africa, showed improvement in the raw materials category. The region is leveraging its critical mineral reserves amidst the energy transition. As the world seeks alternative supply chains, Africa's focus on critical minerals and increased interest in sustainable practices position it as a potential source for global supply.
Forecast for Lithium and Nickel Prices
Price fluctuations in lithium and nickel markets are influenced by supply-demand dynamics and technological advancements. While lithium prices surged due to increased battery demand, nickel's surge stemmed from technology breakthroughs in processing low-grade deposits. The impact of geopolitical factors on supply and demand plays a role in price stability, with expectations of price recovery based on balancing supply and demand dynamics in the coming year.
As the world races to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, countries are ramping up their efforts across the supply chain, from mining raw materials to fostering consumer demand. For the fourth year, BloombergNEF has ranked the potential of 30 markets to build a secure, reliable and sustainable lithium-ion battery supply chain, with Canada leapfrogging China to clinch the top spot this time around.
On today’s show, Dana is joined by the head of BNEF’s metals and mining team, Kwasi Ampofo, and metals and mining analyst Ellie Gomes-Callus. Together they discuss the ranking, including which countries are performing best across the five categories assessed, and also unpack the recent volatility in the lithium market and the impact that Indonesian policy has had on nickel prices.
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com