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

Recently, the Bengbu Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment in Anhui Province released the acceptance announcement for the environmental impact assessment report of the "Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Cathode Material Repair Project" undertaken by a new energy technology company in Anhui. Phase I involves the procurement of pretreatment equipment, separation and repair equipment, mixing equipment, environmental protection equipment, etc., and the construction of one new production line for repairing 10,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate battery cathode materials. Phase II involves the construction of one new production line for repairing 10,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate battery cathode materials.

On March 2nd, information from the Lanzhou Bureau of Industry and Information Technology revealed that a new material company in Gansu recently held a commissioning ceremony in Lanzhou New Area for the first phase of its 100,000-ton-per-year lithium phosphate-based cathode material production line construction project. It is reported that the project covers a total area of 363 mu with a total investment of 3.135 billion yuan. The project is being built in two phases, each with a capacity of 100,000 tons. The first phase, a 100,000-ton-per-year lithium iron phosphate production line, commenced construction in April 2024 and has now officially started production after over a year of construction.

JS Energy announced on the 27th that it has begun full-scale operations at its third plant located in the Megapolis district of Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. The facility, built with an investment of KRW 358.7 billion, began construction in June 2023 and was completed in 22 months. It has an annual production capacity of 70,000 tons of cathode materials.

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.

This week, the Co3O4 market maintained a stable trend, with overall activity still relatively weak. Quotations from top-tier enterprises remained at a high level of around 370,000 yuan/mt, while the tight inventory of cobalt intermediate products continued to provide cost support for prices. However, downstream LCO material plants did not accelerate their procurement pace, mostly conducting small-scale restocking based on orders on hand, and market inquiry sentiment improved slightly WoW. Going forward, the pace of end-use demand will become the key variable determining the procurement intensity of cathode materials. In the short term, the Co3O4 market will still mainly remain stable, awaiting further clarity on the demand side.

COSMO Advanced Materials announced on the 23rd that it signed a strategic partnership agreement (SPA) with Battery Solution on March 3 for the development and commercialization of next-generation cathode materials.

It is worth noting that the overall overseas ternary cathode demand outlook for 2026 remains subdued. The U.S. market has been sluggish since the fourth quarter of last year, prompting many overseas manufacturers to place their hopes on the European market.

On March 18, the Chairman of Chery Automobile stated that Chery's solid-state battery pilot production line has developed cells with different energy density levels and is currently conducting extensive rigorous testing. Chery's future investment in all-solid-state batteries will have no upper limit. It is reported that Chery's Rhino Battery S series includes a 60Ah, 400Wh/kg solid-state battery utilizing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte system and high-nickel ternary cathode materials; and a 600Wh/kg solid-state battery using an in-situ polymerization solid electrolyte system and lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials, achieving a range of over 1500+ km.

According to Gu Chunshan, Vice President of Chery Automobile, as the countdown to mass production and popularization begins, all-solid-state batteries have become the focus of attention for both the industry and users, and Chery will place no upper limit on its future investment in all-solid-state batteries. It is reported that Chery's Rhino Battery S Series 60Ah, 400Wh/kg solid-state battery uses a sulphide-based solid electrolyte system and high-nickel ternary cathode material; the 600Wh/kg solid-state battery uses an in-situ polymerization solid electrolyte system and lithium-rich manganese cathode material, with a driving range of over 1,500 km, and the company aims to carry out vehicle validation by 2027.