China and the Global Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chain Landscape
Upstream mineral supply is globally distributed, but China remains the dominant actor in the midstream and downstream battery ecosystem.
Upstream mineral supply is globally distributed, but China remains the dominant actor in the midstream and downstream battery ecosystem.
Kazakhstan accounts for the region’s economic scale, while Uzbekistan and neighbouring economies are expanding manufacturing and trade.
India provides the region's industrial scale and Bangladesh is driving the fastest export-led expansion.
Fixed asset investment has continued to expand steadily, but growth has slowed in recent years, with the sharpest declines in real estate and construction.
Manufacturing is expanding steadily in absolute terms, but India’s growth model remains firmly services-led.
Asia accounts for over half of China’s trade, but growth momentum is shifting toward developing regions, especially Africa and Latin America.
Electricity generation rose 2.2% in 2025, as thermal output declined for the first time in a decade, with strong gains in solar and wind.
With commodity exports down from 2021, faster growth in machinery, electronics and transport imports has narrowed Australia’s trade surplus.
Freight volumes suggest stable conditions in industrial and domestic demand rather than a cyclical upswing.
Copper and lithium led output gains in 2025, while the top three producers still control 70-90% of most key metals.