According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the 30th, Samsung SDI has filed for and is in the process of securing a patent for a composite anode material. The patent, titled “Composite anode active material and anode and lithium secondary battery including the same,” was originally filed on July 10, 2020, and was published on March 24. It covers an anode material combining graphite with an average particle size (D50) of approximately 18μm or larger, graphite of around 10μm or larger, and a silicon-carbon composite. The technology focuses on enhancing structural stability and extending battery lifespan by densely filling the electrode with graphite particles of different sizes.

With utilization rates among Korean battery manufacturers remaining around 50% and reflecting a timing mismatch between demand and supply, utilization is increasingly emerging as a key indicator of cost structure and operational efficiency in a context where capacity expansion has preceded demand realization.

Starting in 2027, L&F will supply LFP battery cathode materials to Samsung SDI for three consecutive years.

Samsung SDI has made an equity investment in FINO, the Korean subsidiary of CNGR. The investment was carried out through participation in a third-party allotment capital increase. FINO announced on the 27th that it will issue new shares worth KRW 70 billion via a third-party allocation, totaling 14,294,467 common shares at an issue price of KRW 4,897 per share.

Recently, L&F signed a lithium iron phosphate cathode material supply agreement with Samsung SDI, with a contract value of approximately 1.6 trillion Korean Won. The supply period under the agreement is from 2027 to 2029. It is noteworthy that L&F, as a South Korean battery material company, claims to be the first non-Chinese company to invest in LFP cathode material production. It is currently constructing an LFP production line with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons. The first phase, planned to have an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, is scheduled for completion in April 2026, with large-scale mass production expected to begin as early as the third quarter of 2026.

On March 16, news emerged that Samsung SDI has signed a contract with a US energy company for the supply of energy storage batteries. The contract value is 1.5 trillion Korean Won, approximately 6.915 billion RMB. The supply is planned to occur in phases from 2026 to 2029, spanning four years. The batteries will be produced at a factory in Indiana, USA, a joint venture between SDI and Stellantis. This factory was previously dedicated to producing power batteries with an original capacity of 30GWh. Subsequently, three-quarters of its production lines were converted to produce energy storage batteries, with a planned capacity of approximately 21GWh. Production is scheduled to commence by the end of 2026.