Korea’s battery industry is expanding beyond EVs into ESS and other applications. As a result, competition is shifting from product performance toward broader supply chain capabilities. InterBattery 2026 highlighted this transition.

While maintaining a growth structure centered on EVs, South Korea’s battery industry is accelerating its expansion into energy storage systems (ESS) and non-automotive application fields, entering a new phase of transformation. As a result, the basis of competition is shifting from product performance to broader supply chain capabilities. At InterBattery 2026 held in March, major South Korean battery producers showcased a diverse range of products for ESS, AI infrastructure, and industrial applications, underscoring this shift. The industry’s focus is now moving from the single EV market to a broader landscape of energy and industrial applications.

SMM March 31 News: Raw material side, lithium carbonate prices fluctuated this week, cobalt sulphate prices dropped slightly, and nickel sulphate prices were temporarily stable.

Recycling Industry Events This Week (December. 29-31)

Recently, a relevant website released the first public notice for public participation in the environmental impact assessment of the "Guangdong Province Spent Lithium Battery Recycling Industry Base Cluster Project (Phase I)" undertaken by a company from Guangdong. According to the public notice, the project is located in Huadu District, Guangzhou City, and is primarily engaged in the comprehensive utilization of spent lithium batteries. Upon completion, using 15,000 t/a of spent lithium-ion battery cells as raw materials, the project will produce main products including ternary battery mixed powder

Recently, a new energy technology company in Guangdong officially released the first public notice for the environmental impact assessment of its "100,000-ton-per-year Lithium Battery Material Recycling Construction Project." This project will build 10 production lines for the recycling and utilization of spent lithium batteries. The main raw materials will be externally sourced spent lithium iron phosphate and ternary power lithium batteries. Upon completion, the project is expected to produce 7,500 tons of copper powder, 7,500 tons of aluminum powder, 42,000 tons of battery powder, 500 tons of PP, 2,000 tons of iron, and 5 tons of nickel sheets annually.