ORIGINAL PAPER
Value chains in the high-tech raw materials industry – the example of the lithium value chain
1
AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland
Submission date: 2023-10-02
Final revision date: 2023-10-24
Acceptance date: 2023-10-25
Publication date: 2023-12-12
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2023;39(4):5-22
KEYWORDS
value chainsraw materials industrylithium value chainmargins migrations among technologies and branches
TOPICS
Research on mineral raw materials marketsPreparation and processing of mineral raw materialsRational use of mineral raw materials
ABSTRACT
This paper presents concepts of value chains as strategic models for long-term development and a sustainable approach for ensuring efficiency. It highlights the fact that value chains are of particular importance in the raw materials industry, where the exploration, extraction, processing and metallurgy stages are characterized by high capital expenditure and fixed costs. Additionally, it emphasizes that offering an increasingly valuable product at each stage of production or processing makes it possible to increase earnings and achieve a higher margin. In order to give a practical dimension to the presented analyses, the paper provides an example of lithium value chains and identifies the determinants of their functioning in the current market together with their prospects. The conclusion highlights Europe’s need to source raw materials within business models based on value chains.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Łańcuchy wartości w przemyśle surowcowym na potrzeby nowoczesnych technologii – przykład litu
łańcuchy wartości, przemysł surowcowy, łańcuch wartości litu, migracje marż między technologiami i branżami
W artykule przedstawiono koncepcje łańcuchów wartości jako strategicznych modeli rozwoju długoterminowego i zapewnienia efektywności w zrównoważonym ujęciu. Wskazano, że mają one szczególne znaczenie w przemyśle surowcowym, gdzie etapy związane z eksploracją, wydobyciem, przetwórstwem i metalurgią charakteryzują się dużymi wydatkami inwestycyjnymi i kosztami stałymi. Z drugiej strony podkreślono, że oferowanie coraz bardziej wartościowego produktu na każdym etapie produkcji czy przetworzenia pozwala zarabiać i osiągać wyższe marże. Dla praktycznego wymiaru zaprezentowanych analiz przytoczono przykład łańcucha wartości dla litu oraz wskazano determinanty jego funkcjonowania na obecnym rynku wraz z perspektywami. W konkluzji zwrócono uwagę na potrzeby Europy co do pozyskania surowców w ramach modeli biznesowych opartych na łańcuchach wartości.
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| eISSN: | 2299-2324 |
| ISSN: | 0860-0953 |
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