January 21, 2022 – The miserable chip shortage is set to continue in 2022 as automakers around the globe ramp up electrification. And now—the threat of a shortage of battery metals is beginning to materialize.
Lithium of suitable grade for car batteries is five times more expensive in January 2022 than it was in January 2021. The good news is this is predicted to be a temporary bubble, with 2022 being the worst year for lithium pricing before things start to drop back down to previous levels.
The bad news, in the present, is that 2022 is predicted to be so bad for the price of lithium that it will potentially rise by 50 percent again, according to reports. It comes down to the fragility of global supply chains and how much pressure the third year of a global health crisis is continuing to put them under.