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Global demand for critical minerals surged in June 2025 as electric vehicle sales continued their upward march. New data from Adamas Intelligence show that the deployment of lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite into passenger xEV batteries climbed sharply, reflecting both rising volumes and shifting battery chemistries.
By Ryan Chigoche
Lithium remained the key driver of electrification. A total of 54,138 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent were deployed worldwide in June, up 23 per cent year on year and 11 per cent from May.
CATL accounted for the largest share with 16,857 tonnes, while BYD led automakers with 7,801 tonnes.
Yet despite the growth, average lithium intensity per vehicle slipped by one per cent from last year, evidence of continuing efficiency improvements in battery design.
Nickel deployment reached 30,870 tonnes, a six per cent increase compared with June 2024.
CATL again topped the supplier rankings with 8,188 tonnes, while Tesla deployed 5,252 tonnes to retain its position as the leading automaker.
On average, nickel use per vehicle fell 14 per cent year on year, underscoring the industry’s gradual shift toward lithium iron phosphate and other low nickel chemistries.
Cobalt demand remained steady but muted. In June, 5,551 tonnes were deployed globally, just one per cent higher than a year earlier.
CATL supplied 1,844 tonnes, while Tesla deployed 611 tonnes. Average cobalt intensity declined sharply to 2.2 kilograms per vehicle, an 18 per cent drop compared to June 2024, underscoring the move away from cobalt-heavy formulations.
Manganese use showed little momentum, totalling 6,791 tonnes, flat year on year but seven per cent higher than in May. CATL deployed 2,433 tonnes, while Tesla contributed 466 tonnes. The global sales weighted average fell 19 per cent compared with last year to 2.7 kilograms per vehicle.
Graphite, however, saw one of the strongest surges, reflecting its indispensable role as the dominant anode material.
In June, 88,285 tonnes of synthetic and natural graphite were deployed globally, a rise of 27 per cent year on year and 11 per cent month on month.
CATL supplied 27,444 tonnes, while BYD deployed 15,057 tonnes, leading among automakers. Average graphite intensity per vehicle increased by three per cent to 35.1 kilograms.
Driving these shifts was the continuing momentum in global EV sales.
In June, passenger xEV sales reached 2.51 million units, up 8 per cent from May and 24 per cent year on year.
Asia Pacific accounted for the bulk of growth with a 32 per cent annual increase, while Europe rose 12 per cent.
Sales in the Americas declined 6 per cent from May but were still 8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Battery capacity deployment mirrored this trend, totalling 93,792 MWh globally, an increase of 25 per cent year on year. CATL again led suppliers, while BYD remained the leading automaker.
The data highlights two distinct trends: lithium and graphite demand are rising strongly in step with overall sales, while average nickel, cobalt, and manganese loads per battery continue to decline as automakers diversify chemistries.
With Asia Pacific leading global adoption and CATL, BYD, and Tesla driving volumes, the second half of 2025 is expected to bring even greater pressure on the supply of critical minerals.
