Electric mobility is not only changing the automotive industry, but also logistics. Batteries are at the heart of transformation, and their production depends on raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, or graphite. These materials are unevenly distributed worldwide, often geopolitically sensitive and logistically demanding.

Global hotspots and geopolitical risks
Lithium comes largely from South America, in particular Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. Cobalt is mainly extracted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, nickel from Indonesia and Russia. This concentration poses risks: political instability, export restrictions or trade conflicts can abruptly interrupt supply chains.

Transport safety requirements
Raw materials such as lithium are not only valuable but also dangerous. Lithium compounds are considered dangerous goods and are subject to strict regulations. Airfreight requires special packaging, temperature controls and safety certificates. Protection measures against moisture and heating are also crucial when travelling by sea.

Multimodal strategies
To ensure security of supply, companies rely on multimodal concepts: combinations of ship, rail and road enable flexible, redundant routes. Many shipping companies and logistics service providers are setting up specialized terminals and security warehouses for battery raw materials.

Trump tariffs and trade conflicts
Fluctuating tariffs, particularly in the trade conflict between the USA and China, are an additional factor of uncertainty. There are new developments almost every day — such as punitive tariffs on Chinese batteries or export controls for high-tech minerals from the USA. This dynamic forces companies to constantly adapt their supply chain strategies.

Sustainability and recycling
Another trend: battery recycling. By recovering lithium, cobalt and nickel from old batteries, dependence on geopolitically critical regions is expected to decrease. Logistics plays a key role here — from the safe transportation of used batteries to the distribution of recycled materials to manufacturers.
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Logistics in the age of electric mobility is a balancing act between security of supply, geopolitical risks and sustainability. Anyone who can build robust, flexible and secure supply chains will gain decisive advantages in a dynamic market.