Become a customer

How developing the US lithium battery supply chain will improve domestic supply

Watch this video with Emily Hersh, CEO of Luna Lithium, as she explains how the domestic lithium battery supply is currently developing in the US and how it will help to improve domestic lithium supply

September 1, 2022
Battery materials Lithium Supply chains

This video interview with Emily Hersh from Luna Lithium covers two key questions:

  1. How is the US domestic lithium battery supply chain evolving?
  2. What are some of the biggest exploration projects underway and how will they improve US domestic lithium supply?

At the end of the video, Emily also shares some insights into the exploration project Luna Lithium is developing in Nevada. You can watch the full interview below and read the key takeaways underneath.

The development of the domestic supply chain in the US

The domestic supply chain in the US is developing not from the ground up, but from large investments and significant policy support for battery manufacturing as well as the manufacturing or processing of active materials. This includes cathodes and anodes. This top-down push is laying the groundwork for unlocking the economics of multiple domestic lithium projects over the next decade.

Current exploration projects and how they will improve domestic lithium supply

If you take a look at the different types of lithium-hosting geologies that are currently under exploration in the US – in Nevada and in Utah – you’ve got some very interesting sediment-hosted brine projects. You’ve also got a lot of clays and claystone sediment-type projects. Luna Lithium is also looking at a lot of pegmatites on the East Coast.

There are also interesting non-conventional brines, including geothermal brine exploration, happening in the Salton Sea in California, as well as interesting oilfield brine exploration in Arkansas.

With better infrastructure and additional investments in parts of the supply chain that come next, the industry will be able to unlock the value in deposits in these different formations but along different timelines.

Luna Lithium’s exploration project in Nevada

Luna Lithium is developing an exploration project on the Columbus Salt Marsh in central Nevada. When Fastmarkets spoke with Emily Hersh during the Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials 2022 conference, the company had just put its first drill hole in and was waiting for the results. The company is looking to understand how lithium is present in the brines in Nevada and wants to understand how these brine sediments interact.

Learn more about the risks to the supply chain and key trends in the market

Emily was one of many experts to take the stage at the recent Fastmarkets Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials conference held in Phoenix in June, 2022.

You can read more about the topics covered and what we learned from this event when you click here. This includes seeing some of the highlights from the event on video.

Take a deep dive into some of the other factors at play in the lithium and battery raw materials market with three of our most recent reports. Simply click the link to each one below to read more:

  1. The risky road ahead for electric vehicles
  2. Why unconventional lithium resources shouldn’t divert focus of the market to address supply shortages
  3. The EV battery chemistry debate just got more complicated

Visit our dedicated battery raw materials page to discover more insights on the factors at play in the industry in 2022 and beyond.

What to read next
US aluminium demand destruction
The US aluminium industry debates demand destruction following tariffs
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
May 21, 2025
 · 
By Yasemin Esmen
DRC cobalt export ban
DRC prepares for new decision on cobalt export ban in June
The DRC is set to decide on the future of its cobalt export ban on June 22, potentially extending, modifying or ending the policy. Aimed at boosting local refining and value creation, the ban has left global markets uncertain, with stakeholders calling for clarity as cobalt prices fluctuate and concerns over long-term demand grow.
May 19, 2025
 · 
By Alexander Cook
Tape, Electronics, Hardware
Battery raw materials market update May 2025
Read Fastmarkets' monthly battery raw materials market update for May 2025, focusing on raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and more
May 16, 2025
 · 
By the Fastmarkets team
Clarification of global lithium methodology
To increase transparency, Fastmarkets has further clarified how it handles price movements during periods of low liquidity. Factors that Fastmarkets may consider during times of low liquidity include, but are not limited to: market fundamentals such as changes in inventory levels, shipments, operating rates and export volumes; relative fundamentals of similar commodities in the same […]
May 15, 2025
 · 
By Grace Asenov
cobalt stockpile
Cobalt market cautious over Glencore-backed Cobalt Holdings plan for 6,000 tonnes purchase
Cobalt Holdings plans to acquire 6,000 tonnes of cobalt. Following their $230M London Stock Exchange listing, this move secures a key cobalt reserve. With the DRC’s export ban affecting prices, the decision reflects shifting industry dynamics
May 13, 2025
 · 
By Sofia Okun
US-China trade agreement
US-China 90-day tariff deal brightens trade and economic outlook
The recent US-China agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs is a major step for global trade, with tariffs on US goods entering China dropping from 125% to 10% and on Chinese goods entering the US decreasing from 145% to 30% starting May 14. While this has boosted markets and created optimism, key industries like autos and steel remain affected, leaving businesses waiting for clearer long-term trade policies.
May 13, 2025
 · 
By Robert England