Wealthion Macro Bites – China Deepens its Lithium Grip

The U.S. escalated its Iranian bombing campaign (now in its 6^th day) from “military logistics infrastructure” to five bridges, two train stations and an airport, while U.S. Marines boarded a sanctioned Iranian tanker and fired on another commercial ship under auspices of the reimposed blockade of Iranian ports. Iran responded by firing on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, with Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy reporting extensive damage to one of its power generation and desalination stations. The Ministry cited the attack as “unjust Iranian aggression on the State of Kuwait.”

Reuters reports China's Zijin has started ‌exporting lithium concentrate from its Manono project in Democratic Republic of Congo, with a quoted source observing, “Exports started in June as planned. They ​are shipping everything to China." The shipments mark Congo's first lithium exports, extending China’s dominance of DRC’s critical minerals sector where CMOC and Huayou Cobalt are already major players. Zijin forecasts ’26 production and export of 30kt of lithium carbonate.