China Li-ion Battery E-News 1504 (12 issues per year)

In April 2015, CCM found that a strong upturn was showed in the battery-grade lithium carbonate market, mainly because of the stable and strong downstream demand and the decreased supply. In March, Chile, a major supplier for lithium resources in the globe, suffered from flood, which then led to the setbacks in the circulation of lithium resources and the deconstruction of related exploitation devices. SQM, the largest lithium carbonate producer in the world announced the business suspension in northern Chile, so as to avoid the damages brought by the rainstorms and following flood.

In addition, technology for ternary materials, such as NCM and NCA began to capture attention in downstream EV market. This is a threat to the LFP technology which has played a dominant role in the market for years.

As the alternative energy vehicle industry gradually strengthens the demand for performance improvement, like increases in driving range and decreases in charge frequency, the mainstream LFP power battery is disadvantaged for its backward performance. Meanwhile, the energy density of LFP power battery cannot reach the standards specified by the Chinese government in the index requirements released in February 2015.

By contrast, power Li-ion battery based on ternary materials has higher energy density. This enables it to meet the state-level requirements and to equip vehicle with longer driving range. Hence, it begins to be widely accepted by downstream markets.

According to CCM research, altogether 103 alternative energy vehicles were exhibited at the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition held on 22 April, 2015, 7.70% of the total vehicles exhibited. Of this, most of the China-made ones were found to be installed with ternary power Li-ion battery instead of LFP power battery.

Qinghai Lithium achieves direct extraction of battery-grade lithium carbonate from salt lake bittern
Ganfeng Lithium to acquire 100% of equity in Western Resources Lithium
Catastrophic flood in Chile to push up lithium raw material prices
Ex-works price of battery-grade lithium carbonate increases by 6.5% MoM in China in April 2015
GEM partners with Samsung SDI to explore Li-ion battery market
CNITECH: progress achieved in R&D of new fluorine-enriched binder for Li-ion battery
Acceptance check on Guizhou’s ternary cathode materials project OK'ed
Tianjin B&M: scaled production of nano-coated LCO cathode material project
USITC to institute Section 337 investigation on some cathode materials and Li-ion battery
Ningbo Shanshan increases capital of USD1 38.36 million in Li-ion battery and alternative energy businesses
Jiangsu Jiujiujiu puts LiPF6 expansion project into trial operation
Sinoma: Li-ion battery separator production line to be put into operation
BTR partners with REG to develop natural graphite deep processing business
Baoan Group joins hands with CAS to develop new Li-ion battery anode materials
Increasingly favored ternary 1 8650 power Li-ion battery, severely challenged Chinese suppliers
Great Power to go listed on ChiNext, SZSE
Dynavolt Power officially launches BEV concept car
Do-Fluoride: Li-ion battery business boosts performance rise and strategic achievement in Q1 2015
SJTU: progress in Li-ion battery BMS design theory
China's first intercity electric passenger transport route to open in April 2015
Import and export of major Li-ion battery materials and Li-ion batteries in China in Feb. 2015
Ex-works prices of major Li-ion battery materials in China in April 2015
Tinci to expand production capacity for liquid LiPF6
Johnson Controls to exhibit new start-stop battery at Auto Shanghai 2015