Back to supply chains
Where does LG Energy Solution source its components?
South Korea. Supply chain mapped to 38 inputs across 10 countries.
Federal screeningClean
No federal designation found. LG Energy Solution is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and South Korea is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Is LG Energy Solution a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High55% weighted
12 in covered nations - 18 elevated, of 38 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
4 of 7 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Supplier1
Component8
Processing / Refining7
Raw Material14
Mine / Extraction7
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
0
Designated (0%)
12
Covered nation (32%)
18
Elevated (47%)
8
No known factor (21%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the LG Energy Solution supply chain
38 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for LG Energy Solution.
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG Energy SolutionSeoul HQ; gigafactories in South Korea, Poland, China, Indonesia, USA (Michigan, Tennessee, Arizona) | South Korea | No known risk factor | One of world's largest Li-ion cell makers; supplies Tesla, GM (Ultium), Hyundai. Korean parent = allied entity, clean at manufacturer level. |
Supplier (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea Precursor Co (KPC) pCAMKorea Precursor Co., Ltd. (LG Chem + Korea Zinc JV), South Korea | South Korea | No known risk factor | Non-China precursor JV; precursors used in CAM shipped to Toyota, structured to meet IRA/FEOC non-China sourcing. |
Component (8)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM)LG Chem Cheongju/Gumi (KR); Clarksville, Tennessee (US) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | High-nickel (~90% Ni) NCMA cathode. LG Chem produces CAM from precursor. FEOC exposure via upstream precursor/metal refining in China. |
| Graphite Anode Active MaterialMultiple (BTR/Shanshan China; Novonix US planned) | China | Covered nation | Both natural and synthetic graphite anode. China controls >90% of spherical/anode-grade graphite processing. Natural graphite DT-1 historically supplied to LG Chem by China. |
| Battery Separator FilmLG Toray Hungary Battery Separator (LTHS) 50/50 JV | Hungary | Elevated sourcing risk | Coated polyolefin separator. LG Chem + Toray JV in Hungary supplies EU/US; allied JV but polymer/ceramic inputs mixed origin. |
| Liquid ElectrolyteEnchem, Soulbrain (KR + Northville, Michigan US) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Carbonate solvents + LiPF6 salt + additives. Suppliers Enchem/Soulbrain, but core LiPF6 salt largely China-sourced -> flagged. |
| Copper Foil (Anode Current Collector)Rolled/electrodeposited Cu foil suppliers (KR/Asia) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Negative-electrode current collector; carries ~90% of anode conductivity. Foil supply Korea/Asia; copper cathode refining partly China. |
| Aluminum Foil (Cathode Current Collector)Battery-grade Al foil suppliers (KR/Japan) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Positive-electrode current collector. UACJ (Japan) is a lead battery-foil maker; primary aluminum smelting varies by origin. |
| Cell Can / Pouch HousingPouch (aluminum laminate film) and can suppliers (KR/JP) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Aluminum-laminate pouch or prismatic/cylindrical can. Aluminum laminate film historically dominated by Japanese suppliers. |
| Precursor CAM (pCAM / NCM(A) hydroxide)LG Chem–Huayou JV, Quzhou/Indonesia; Korea Precursor Co (KPC) KR | China | Covered nation | Ni-Co-Mn(-Al) mixed hydroxide precursor. Major volume via LG Chem–Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt JV (China/Indonesia) -> flagged. KPC (LG Chem/Korea Zinc) is the IRA-compliant non-China alternative. |
Processing and refining (7)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium Conversion Refinery (China)Chinese spodumene converters | China | Covered nation | Converts Australian spodumene into battery-grade Li hydroxide/carbonate. China midstream chokepoint -> flagged. |
| Kwinana / Covalent Lithium RefineryWesCEF Kwinana / Covalent Mt Holland, Western Australia | Australia | No known risk factor | Domestic Australian lithium hydroxide refining; non-China route supplying LGES North American plants -> clean. |
| Huayou Cobalt Refinery (China)Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, China | China | Covered nation | Refines DRC cobalt hydroxide into cobalt sulfate; also LG Chem's precursor JV partner. China refining chokepoint -> flagged. |
| Batang Nickel Sulfate SmelterLG-led smelter, Batang, Central Java, Indonesia | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Refines MHP/nickel to battery-grade nickel sulfate; LG-owned but consortium includes Huayou (China) = review. |
| Graphite Spheronizing/Purification (China)Chinese spherical-graphite plants | China | Covered nation | Converts flake into coated spherical graphite; >90% of this refining in China -> flagged. |
| Novonix Synthetic Graphite (US)Novonix, Chattanooga, Tennessee | United States | No known risk factor | LGES JDA + $30M investment; non-China synthetic graphite build-out, option for up to 50,000 t over 10 yrs -> clean route. |
| High-Purity Manganese Sulfate Refinery (China)Chinese HPMSM plants | China | Covered nation | Battery-grade manganese sulfate refining concentrated in China -> flagged. |
Raw material (14)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-Grade Lithium HydroxideWesCEF/Covalent Kwinana (AU); China converters | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Lithium hydroxide feeds high-nickel NCMA. Sourced from WesCEF (Mt Holland/Kwinana, AU) = clean path, plus Australian spodumene converted in China = flagged path. |
| Lithium CarbonateChinese lithium converters | China | Covered nation | Alternative Li salt; much of Australian spodumene is refined to Li carbonate/hydroxide in China -> flagged for that route. |
| Nickel SulfateLG smelter Batang, Central Java (150kt/yr NiSO4) | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Class-1 nickel sulfate for pCAM. LG-led $3.5B Batang smelter (Indonesia) plus Huayou-partnered HPAL; Chinese JV involvement = review. |
| Cobalt SulfateHuayou refineries, China | China | Covered nation | Cobalt sulfate for pCAM. DRC cobalt hydroxide refined into sulfate overwhelmingly in China (Huayou); China refines ~majority of world cobalt -> flagged. |
| Manganese SulfateChinese manganese sulfate refiners | China | Covered nation | High-purity manganese sulfate (HPMSM) for NCMA precursor is >90% refined in China -> flagged. |
| Aluminum (NCMA dopant)Alumina/aluminum refiners (AU + Asia) | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Aluminum added to NCMA cathode for stability, cuts cobalt use. Bauxite/alumina largely allied (Australia) but some smelting in China. |
| Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP)HPAL plants, Sulawesi / Central Java (Indonesia) | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Intermediate Ni-Co product from HPAL laterite processing; downstream refined to nickel/cobalt sulfate. Indonesian HPAL heavily Chinese-invested = review. |
| Cobalt Hydroxide (DRC intermediate)DRC mine-site processing | Democratic Republic Of Congo | Elevated sourcing risk | Main cobalt intermediate exported from DRC to China for refining into cobalt sulfate; ~80% of DRC output Chinese-owned -> flagged. |
| Spodumene ConcentrateLiontown Kathleen Valley; WesCEF Mt Holland (AU) | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Hard-rock lithium concentrate; allied-mined in Australia but predominantly converted in China -> route-dependent. |
| Natural Flake GraphiteSyrah Balama (Mozambique); China domestic flake | Mozambique | Elevated sourcing risk | Natural flake feedstock; Syrah (AU-listed, Mozambique) offtake to LGES = allied route, but most flake refined to spherical graphite in China. |
| Spherical / Coated GraphiteSpheronizing/purification plants, China | China | Covered nation | Value-added spherical graphite: China controls >90% of this step; graphite export controls (2023) target it -> flagged. |
| Synthetic (Artificial) GraphiteBTR/Shanshan/Putailai (China); Novonix Tennessee (US planned) | China | Covered nation | Needle-coke-derived synthetic graphite; dominant supply from China (BTR/Shanshan). Novonix US JV with LGES is the non-China build-out. |
| Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6)Do-Fluoride (DFD), Tinci, China | China | Covered nation | Core electrolyte salt; global volume leaders are Chinese (Tinci, Do-Fluoride). Korean electrolyte makers import LiPF6 from China -> flagged. |
| Refined Copper CathodeChilean/Asian copper refineries | Chile | Elevated sourcing risk | Feedstock for copper foil; mined in Chile/Peru (allied) but a large share of global copper is refined/smelted in China. |
Mine and extraction (7)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Valley / Mt Holland Lithium MinesLiontown Kathleen Valley; Covalent/WesCEF Mt Holland, Western Australia | Australia | No known risk factor | Hard-rock spodumene mines under LGES offtake; Australia = allied at mine level -> clean. |
| Indonesian Nickel Laterite MinesSulawesi (Morowali/Konawe) & Central Java laterite deposits | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Nickel laterite ore for HPAL; Indonesia mine but sector heavily Chinese-invested -> review. |
| DRC Cobalt MinesKatanga/Lualaba copper-cobalt belt, DRC | Democratic Republic Of Congo | Elevated sourcing risk | ~71% of global mined cobalt; ~80% of DRC output Chinese-owned/operated -> flagged even at mine level. |
| Balama Natural Graphite MineSyrah Resources Balama, Mozambique | Mozambique | No known risk factor | Non-China natural flake source under LGES exploratory supply deal; mine level allied-controlled -> clean. |
| Chilean Copper MinesChilean copper porphyry mines | Chile | No known risk factor | Copper ore for foil feedstock; Chile = allied mining jurisdiction -> clean at mine level. |
| Manganese Ore MinesKalahari manganese field (South Africa) & others | South Africa | Elevated sourcing risk | Manganese ore for sulfate; South Africa/Gabon/Australia mining but refining to battery-grade concentrated in China. |
| Australian Bauxite MinesWeipa / Gove bauxite, Australia | Australia | No known risk factor | Bauxite for alumina/aluminum (NCMA dopant + Al foil); Australia allied -> clean at mine level. |
Material flow (43 relationships)
- LG Energy Solution assembles NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) (NCMA cathode)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Graphite Anode Active Material (graphite anode)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Battery Separator Film (separator film)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Liquid Electrolyte (electrolyte)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Copper Foil (Anode Current Collector) (copper foil)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Aluminum Foil (Cathode Current Collector) (aluminum foil)
- LG Energy Solution assembles Cell Can / Pouch Housing (cell housing)
- NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Precursor CAM (pCAM / NCM(A) hydroxide) (pCAM precursor)
- NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Korea Precursor Co (KPC) pCAM (pCAM precursor (non-China))
- NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (lithium hydroxide)
- NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Lithium Carbonate (lithium carbonate)
- NCMA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Aluminum (NCMA dopant) (aluminum dopant)
- Precursor CAM (pCAM / NCM(A) hydroxide) supplies Nickel Sulfate (nickel sulfate)
- Precursor CAM (pCAM / NCM(A) hydroxide) supplies Cobalt Sulfate (cobalt sulfate)
- Precursor CAM (pCAM / NCM(A) hydroxide) supplies Manganese Sulfate (manganese sulfate)
- Korea Precursor Co (KPC) pCAM supplies Nickel Sulfate (nickel sulfate)
- Nickel Sulfate refines Batang Nickel Sulfate Smelter (nickel sulfate)
- Batang Nickel Sulfate Smelter refines Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) (MHP intermediate)
- Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) sources from Indonesian Nickel Laterite Mines (nickel laterite ore)
- Cobalt Sulfate refines Huayou Cobalt Refinery (China) (cobalt sulfate)
- Huayou Cobalt Refinery (China) refines Cobalt Hydroxide (DRC intermediate) (cobalt hydroxide)
- Cobalt Hydroxide (DRC intermediate) sources from DRC Cobalt Mines (cobalt ore)
- Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) supplies Cobalt Sulfate (cobalt (HPAL co-product))
- Manganese Sulfate refines High-Purity Manganese Sulfate Refinery (China) (manganese sulfate)
- High-Purity Manganese Sulfate Refinery (China) sources from Manganese Ore Mines (manganese ore)
- Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide refines Kwinana / Covalent Lithium Refinery (lithium hydroxide)
- Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide refines Lithium Conversion Refinery (China) (lithium hydroxide)
- Lithium Carbonate refines Lithium Conversion Refinery (China) (lithium carbonate)
- Kwinana / Covalent Lithium Refinery refines Spodumene Concentrate (spodumene concentrate)
- Lithium Conversion Refinery (China) refines Spodumene Concentrate (spodumene concentrate)
- Spodumene Concentrate sources from Kathleen Valley / Mt Holland Lithium Mines (lithium ore)
- Graphite Anode Active Material supplies Spherical / Coated Graphite (spherical graphite)
- Graphite Anode Active Material supplies Synthetic (Artificial) Graphite (synthetic graphite)
- Spherical / Coated Graphite refines Graphite Spheronizing/Purification (China) (spherical graphite)
- Graphite Spheronizing/Purification (China) refines Natural Flake Graphite (natural flake graphite)
- Natural Flake Graphite sources from Balama Natural Graphite Mine (flake graphite ore)
- Synthetic (Artificial) Graphite refines Novonix Synthetic Graphite (US) (synthetic graphite (US route))
- Liquid Electrolyte supplies Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) (LiPF6 salt)
- Copper Foil (Anode Current Collector) supplies Refined Copper Cathode (copper cathode)
- Refined Copper Cathode sources from Chilean Copper Mines (copper ore)
- Aluminum Foil (Cathode Current Collector) supplies Aluminum (NCMA dopant) (aluminum)
- Cell Can / Pouch Housing supplies Aluminum (NCMA dopant) (aluminum laminate)
- Aluminum (NCMA dopant) sources from Australian Bauxite Mines (bauxite ore)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for LG Energy Solution, and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Primary sources (1) - government, filings, standards bodies
Secondary sources (25) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- lgensol.com lgensol.com/mobile/en/business/subject-ncm
- inside.lgensol.com inside.lgensol.com/en/2023/10/infographics-11-ncma-cathode/
- insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/559735/lg-huayou-cobalt-jv-ncma/
- electrek.co electrek.co/2021/06/02/tesla-first-lg-new-ncma-nickel-based-battery-cells/
- kedglobal.com kedglobal.com/batteries/newsView/ked202304140020
- thelec.net thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=12233
- novonixgroup.com novonixgroup.com/news/novonix-and-lg-energy-solution-enter-into-a-jda-for-artificial-graphite-anode-material-and-a-us30-million-investment-agreement/
- electrive.com electrive.com/2023/06/07/lges-to-source-graphite-anode-material-from-novonix/
- koreaherald.com koreaherald.com/article/2982717
- mining.com mining.com/web/syrah-resources-to-explore-supplying-graphite-to-lg-energy-solution/
- mmta.co.uk mmta.co.uk/impact-of-graphite-export-restrictions-in-china/
- tycorun.com tycorun.com/blogs/news/top-12-graphite-anode-manufacturers-in-china
- chargedevs.com chargedevs.com/newswire/toray-and-lg-chem-create-battery-separator-joint-venture/
- cm.asiae.co.kr cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2024010413214052528
- yicaiglobal.com yicaiglobal.com/news/chinas-do-fluoride-to-team-with-south-koreas-soulbrain-to-add-battery-material-output
- pv-magazine-australia.com pv-magazine-australia.com/press-releases/liontown-signs-foundational-binding-offtake-term-sheet-with-lg-energy-solution/
- news.lgensol.com news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/2435/
- manufacturingdive.com manufacturingdive.com/news/lg-energy-solution-wescef-lithium-hydroxide-second-supply-deal-batteries-ev-inflation-reduction-act/707819/
- miningsee.eu miningsee.eu/cobalt-in-2026-global-supply-chains-drc-dominance-chinese-refining-power-and-the-future-of-battery-metals/
- blog.buminidhi.com blog.buminidhi.com/2025/05/01/nickel-mine-in-indonesia/
- targray.com targray.com/li-ion-battery/foils
- ufo.uacj-group.com ufo.uacj-group.com/en/products/battery/
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiang_Huayou_Cobalt
- benchmarkminerals.com benchmarkminerals.com/glossary/what-is-graphite
- benchmarkminerals.com benchmarkminerals.com/glossary/what-is-cobalt
Common questions
- Where does LG Energy Solution source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 38 inputs across 10 countries, including 14 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the LG Energy Solution supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 12 of 38 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 18 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is LG Energy Solution itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- No federal designation found. LG Energy Solution is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and South Korea is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.