Supply Chain Risk Assessment
Identify supply chain vulnerabilities in your battery materials before committing to R&D. Flag critical elements like cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earths that may pose sourcing risks.
Why Supply Chain Risk Matters
The battery industry faces significant supply chain challenges. Cobalt is concentrated in the DRC, rare earths are dominated by China, and lithium production is constrained. A material that performs well in the lab may be impractical at scale if it relies on critical elements.
Critical Elements We Track
High Risk
- Cobalt (Co) - DRC concentration
- Rare Earths (La, Ce, Nd) - China dominance
- Germanium (Ge) - Limited suppliers
- Gallium (Ga) - China export controls
Moderate Risk
- Lithium (Li) - Growing demand
- Nickel (Ni) - Indonesia concentration
- Manganese (Mn) - South Africa supply
- Graphite - China processing
Real-World Impact
- 2022 Nickel Crisis - LME nickel prices spiked 250% in days due to short squeeze
- Cobalt Price Volatility - Prices swung from $30k to $80k per tonne (2016-2022)
- Rare Earth Restrictions - Export controls can disrupt supply overnight
Risk Mitigation Strategies
- Material Substitution - Consider LFP over NMC to eliminate cobalt
- Composition Optimization - Reduce critical element content (NMC811 vs NMC111)
- Diversification - Qualify materials with elements from multiple sources
- Early Assessment - Use Matproof to flag risks before lab work
Frequently Asked Questions
Which elements are flagged as critical materials?
Matproof flags elements on both EU and US critical materials lists including: Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Manganese (Mn), Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Nd, etc.), Germanium (Ge), Gallium (Ga), and others. The lists are updated to reflect 2024 regulations.
How does supply chain risk affect material selection?
Materials containing critical elements may face price volatility, supply disruptions, or regulatory restrictions. For example, cobalt is concentrated in the DRC with geopolitical risks. Matproof helps you identify these risks early so you can evaluate alternatives like LFP instead of NMC.
Can I compare supply chain risks across material alternatives?
Yes! Analyze multiple formulas to compare their risk profiles. For instance, compare LiFePO4 (no critical elements beyond Li) vs LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (contains Co, Ni, Mn) to understand trade-offs between performance and supply security.
Are Chinese supply chain dependencies considered?
Our critical materials assessment reflects global supply chain realities. Many elements like rare earths and processed lithium have significant Chinese market share, which is factored into the risk assessment for materials containing these elements.
Assess Your Material Risks
Identify supply chain vulnerabilities before they become problems.
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