SunSirs: China’s Energy Storage Product Exports Booming: No Slump in the Off-Season

According to CCTV Finance, the scale and growth rate of China’s energy storage product exports have been impressive so far this year. Customs data shows that in the first quarter of this year, the export value of lithium-ion batteries—one of the most core and critical components of energy storage equipment—increased by more than 50% compared with the same period last year. How are energy storage companies faring in terms of production and sales at present?

At an energy storage manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Chandrasekhar, an Indian buyer who has been working with the company for many years, is discussing future cooperation with staff. Due to growing demand for energy storage products in the Indian market, he plans to increase his procurement volume this year.

Indian buyer Chandrasekhar said: “We have already placed orders for nearly 200 MWh, and delivery has been completed.” We are now preparing to place a further order for 500 MWh for the CNN utility project, and we have also begun discussions on planning for next year’s requirements.

Since the start of this year, demand for energy storage products overseas has continued to grow, a trend that company staff have keenly observed, with a noticeable increase in the number of foreign buyers visiting for inspections. Before energy storage products can be exported overseas, an application must first be made for the certification of dangerous goods packaging, demonstrating to the relevant authorities that the exported goods meet the required standards. Since the beginning of this year, the frequency of applications for this service has also increased significantly.

Zhang Yingchen, a staff member in the Digital Energy Market Support Department of a power supply company in Shenzhen, Guangdong, said: “We apply for this certification about three to four times a month, or even between three and five times. Previously, it was only twice a month.”

A company representative told reporters that the first quarter is not traditionally a peak season for the energy storage industry. However, driven by overseas market demand this year, the company has seen growth in exports across all categories of energy storage products, and its overseas sales channels have been further expanded.

Liu Heping, Vice President of a power supply company in Shenzhen, Guangdong, said: “We have seen substantial growth from December last year to April this year. Shipments in the first quarter of this year increased by 150% year-on-year. Previously, our exports were mainly communication energy storage products, but we have now expanded our product range. Communication energy storage is exported to Southeast Asia, whilst commercial and industrial energy storage is exported to the US and other markets. In the past, we mainly exported lithium iron phosphate batteries, but we have now begun to increase exports of sodium-ion batteries as well.”

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that from January to March this year, China exported lithium-ion batteries worth CNY167.21 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of over 50%. Among these, the European Union was the largest export market, whilst ASEAN was the second-largest.

Qin Huizhe, a Grade 4 Senior Officer in the Data Analysis Section of the Statistics and Analysis Division at Shenzhen Customs, stated: “In the first quarter, Shenzhen exported lithium batteries worth CNY25.01 billion, a year-on-year increase of 59.7%, with exports reaching 190 countries and regions. Specifically, the exported goods were primarily energy storage batteries and power batteries.”

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