African international trade in the global value chain of lithium batteries

Abstract

The global value chain of lithium batteries (GVCLB) is revolutionizing different industries in the world, such as computers and vehicles, since their batteries allow the energy storage produced from various sources of electricity, renewable and conventional, online with the approaches to sustainable development and even the circular economy, highlighting that the first type is ideal for use in rural areas, as a social value, when there is no power grid. Within this global context, studies in Africa on this subject are scarce, in spite of this continent has a series of climatic characteristics, which allow the use of lithium batteries to improve the quality of life of a large percentage of its population. For this reason, the objective of this research is to analyze the degree of participation of Africa in the different components of this chain, focusing on the international trade of lithium batteries, the decomposition of comparative advantages, trade flows and the balances of countries. Our findings show a low level of international trade in African countries within the GVCLB, except in Tunisia and South Africa, which depend heavily on imports of lithium batteries in relation to the world, especially from China and Japan. As for the commercial flows of these products within the continent, South Africa is the indisputable leader in Africa, because it exports lithium batteries to the highest number of countries.