[Lead-Acid Battery Production Update] A major domestic lead-acid battery producer will suspend all production during the Chinese New Year holiday, with routine inquiries scheduled for tomorrow and lead ingot procurement ceasing from this Wednesday.

According to reports, the SMM weekly comprehensive operating rate for lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces was 65.83% from January 30 to February 5, 2026, down 3.18 percentage points WoW. Entering February, the impact of the Chinese New Year holiday gradually emerged. Recently, lead-acid battery enterprises successively arranged pre- and post-holiday work matters. They planned to suspend operations after shipping the final batch of batteries before logistics ceased. This week, some enterprises halted the preliminary processes of lead-acid battery production in the first half of the week. After battery charging was completed, factories officially began holidays over the weekend. Other enterprises planned to suspend operations successively next week. The weekly operating rate for lead-acid battery enterprises was expected to decline week by week.

It is understood that from June 7 to June 13, 2025, the weekly composite operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in the five provinces monitored by SMM was 72.19%, up 11.8 percentage points WoW. This week, the impact of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday was fully lifted, and lead-acid battery enterprises gradually resumed normal production, leading to an increase in the weekly operating rate. The main sectors contributing to this increase were e-bike and automotive battery enterprises, which had holidays ranging from 1 to 5 days during the Dragon Boat Festival, while ESS battery enterprises experienced relatively minor changes in production. From the perspective of end-use consumption, the e-bike and automotive battery markets are still in the traditional off-season, with slow digestion of battery inventory. Dealers are cautious in their procurement, and most enterprises have not been able to reach full production capacity after resuming production during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The operating rates range from around 50% to 70-90%.

SMM 2025 Global Battery Technology Conference Conference Time August 21-22, 2025 In response to climate change, countries worldwide have set carbon neutrality targets to drive the transition of energy structures towards clean energy. The intermittency and volatility of renewable energy sources have imposed higher requirements on energy storage. As a key technology for energy storage, battery technology has become increasingly important. In recent years, new battery technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and sodium-ion batteries have continuously emerged, with continuous improvements in key indicators such as energy density, safety, and cycle life, providing strong momentum for the development of electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage power stations (ESS), consumer electronics, and other fields. The battery industry chain involves multiple links, including resources, materials, manufacturing, and applications, requiring the joint efforts of experts from various countries and fields worldwide to overcome technical challenges and promote the healthy development of the industry. Against this backdrop, SMM is organizing the first 2025 SMM Global Battery Technology Conference , scheduled for August 21-22, 2025. Here, SMM cordially invites major battery dealers to participate in this grand event. Registrants will receive free admission and visit passes, and enjoy surprise gifts for SMM members! Scan the QR code to inquire about preferential details for conference participation. Participants Representative Participating Enterprises As of May 20, over 66 representative enterprises have registered to participate in this conference. The specific list of participants is as follows: The conference focuses on six hot topics ▲ Discussion and exchange on cutting-edge battery technologies ▲ New battery equipment ▲ Latest progress in solid-state battery technology, materials, and equipment ▲ Analysis of sodium-ion battery application technologies and implementation prospects ▲ Sharing of research progress on lightweight, high-energy-density materials for batteries Scan the QR code to learn more about the conference details. Conference Agenda Battery Equipment Forum (August 21) 14:00-14:30 Innovation in Lead-Acid Battery Plate Manufacturing Equipment: Optimization of High-Speed Coating and Curing Processes Guest Speaker (pending): Wang Lina, President, Fengfan Storage Battery Research Institute, Expert in Lead-Acid Battery Technology 14:30-15:00 Innovation in Lead-Acid Battery Formation Process Equipment: Intelligent Charging/Discharging and Energy Consumption Control Guest Speaker (pending): Li Jun, Technical Director, Shuangdeng Group, Expert in Lead-Acid Battery Formation Technology 15:00-15:30 Application of AI Vision Inspection in Lead-Acid Battery Production: Identification of Plate Defects and Leakage Guest Speaker (pending): Zhou Hua, Chief Technical Engineer, Shanghai Haibao Special Power Supply Co., Ltd., Expert in Intelligent Inspection Technology 15:30-16:00 Panoramic View of Differences in Lithium/Sodium/Solid-State Battery Equipment: From Material Handling to Packaging and Testing Guest Speaker (pending): Wu Kai, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited 16:00-16:30 Analysis of Compatibility between Sodium-Ion Battery and Lithium Battery Equipment: Retrofitting or Building New Production Lines? Guest speaker (pending): Yongsheng Hu, Founder of HiNa Battery, Pioneer in the Industrialisation of Sodium-ion Batteries 16:30-17:00 Mass Production Equipment for High-Nickel/Silicon-Based Anode Batteries: Process Breakthroughs from Slurry Coating to Pole Piece Rolling Guest speaker (pending): Shilin Huang, Co-founder of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, Senior Expert in Lithium Battery Equipment August 21st Morning: Corporate Visit. Itinerary: Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. (Regenerated Lead Industrial Base) - C&D Technologies (Power Supply) - Xiaoyang Power - Great Wall Motor Precision Die Casting - Kingfa Science & Technology (Regenerated Plastics Industrial Base) - Great Wall Motor Hive Transmission - Southern Permanent Magnet (Regenerated Magnetic Materials Industrial Base) (Limited to the first 100 registrants) Main Forum 09:00-09:20 Latest Breakthroughs in High-Energy-Density Battery Materials: From Solid-State Electrolytes to Silicon-Based Anodes Guest speaker (pending): Minggao Ouyang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 09:20-09:35 Commercialisation Pathways for Sodium-Ion Battery Materials: Balancing Cost and Performance Guest speaker (pending): Yongsheng Hu, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Leading Figure in the Field of Sodium-Ion Batteries 09:35-10:10 Technological Evolution of ESS Batteries in the Context of New Power Systems Guest speaker: Xianghui Meng, Chairman of Aoguan Group 10:10-10:35 Preparation Technology and Applications of Large-Capacity, High-Safety Aluminum-Based Lead-Carbon Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Batteries Guest speaker: Zhongcheng Guo, Professor at Kunming University of Science and Technology 10:35-11:00 New Electrolyte Systems: Breakthroughs from Liquid to Quasi-Solid-State 11:00-12:00 Roundtable Discussion: Exploring the Possibility of Standardising the Entire Lead-Acid Battery Industry 13:30-13:55 Global Competitive Landscape of Power Battery Materials: A Comparison of Technological Routes in China, Japan, South Korea, and Europe Guest speaker (pending): Yu Wang, Chairman of Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd., Senior Expert in the Battery Industry 13:55-14:20 New Processes in Lead-Acid Battery Manufacturing: Numerical Simulation and Its Implications Guest speaker: Lixu Lei, Professor at Southeast University 14:20-14:45 High-Power Lead-Carbon Battery Technology: Selection and Composite Processes of Capacitor Carbon Materials Guest speaker (pending): Zhiping Chen, Deputy Director of the Research Institute at Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co., Ltd. 14:45-15:10 Development and Industrial Application of Low-Cost Reed-Based Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries Guest speaker: Lei Zhang, Associate Professor at Central South University 15:10-15:35 Upgrading of AGM Separator Materials: Composite Technology of Ultra-Fine Glass Fibers and Modified PE Guest speaker (pending): Shijun Yang, Technical Vice President of Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. 15:35-16:00 Approaches to Improving the Lifespan of Lead-Acid Batteries Guest speaker: Shusong Chai, Senior Engineer For more collaboration opportunities, please contact: Lin Zhang Mobile Number: 15221678846 Email Address: zhanglin@smm.cn

SMM 2025 Global Battery Technology Conference Conference Date August 21-22, 2025 In response to climate change, countries worldwide have set carbon neutrality targets to promote the transition of energy structures towards clean energy. The intermittency and volatility of renewable energy sources have imposed higher requirements on energy storage. As a key technology for energy storage, battery technology has become increasingly important. In recent years, new-type battery technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and sodium-ion batteries have continuously emerged, with key indicators such as energy density, safety, and cycle life continuously improving, providing strong impetus for the development of fields such as electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS) power stations, and consumer electronics. The battery industry chain involves multiple links, including resources, materials, manufacturing, and applications, requiring the concerted efforts of experts from various countries and fields worldwide to jointly overcome technical challenges and promote the healthy development of the industry. Against this backdrop, SMM is organizing the inaugural 2025 SMM Global Battery Technology Conference , scheduled for August 21-22, 2025, to invite partners from various links of the battery industry chain, covering manufacturing enterprises of sodium-ion batteries, lithium batteries, solid-state batteries, and lead-acid batteries, aiming to "cover the entire battery industry chain"! The conference will focus on six key areas ▲ Discussion and exchange on cutting-edge battery technologies ▲ New battery equipment ▲ Latest progress in technology, materials, and equipment for solid-state batteries ▲ Analysis of sodium-ion battery application technologies and implementation prospects ▲ Sharing of research progress on lightweight, high-energy-density materials for batteries Conference Agenda Battery Equipment Forum 14:00-14:30 Innovation in Lead-Acid Battery Plate Manufacturing Equipment: Optimization of High-Speed Plating and Curing Processes Guest Speaker (pending): Lina Wang, President of Fengfan Battery Research Institute, Expert in Lead-Acid Battery Technology 14:30-15:00 Revolution in Lead-Acid Battery Formation Process Equipment: Intelligent Charging/Discharging and Energy Consumption Control Guest Speaker (pending): To be determined 15:00-15:30 Application of AI Vision Inspection in Lead-Acid Battery Production: Identification of Plate Defects and Leakage Guest Speaker (pending): Hua Zhou, Chief Technical Engineer of Haibao Battery, Expert in Intelligent Inspection Technology 15:30-16:00 Panoramic View of Differences in Lithium/Sodium/Solid-State Battery Equipment: From Material Handling to Packaging and Testing Guest Speaker (pending): Kai Wu, Chief Manufacturing Officer of CATL 16:00-16:30 Analysis of Compatibility between Sodium-Ion Battery and Lithium Battery Equipment: Retrofitting or Building New Production Lines? Guest speaker (pending): Yongsheng Hu, Founder of HiNa Battery and Pioneer in Sodium-ion Battery Industrialisation 16:30-17:00 Mass Production Equipment for High-Nickel/Silicon-Based Anode Batteries: Process Breakthroughs from Slurry Mixing and Coating to Pole Piece Rolling Guest speaker (pending): Shilin Huang, Co-founder of CATL and Senior Expert in Lithium Battery Equipment Main Forum 09:00-09:20 Latest Breakthroughs in High-Energy-Density Battery Materials: From Solid-State Electrolytes to Silicon-Based Anodes Guest speaker (pending): Minggao Ouyang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 09:20-09:35 Commercialisation Pathways for Sodium-Ion Battery Materials: Balancing Cost and Performance Guest speaker (pending): Yongsheng Hu, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Leader in the Sodium-Ion Battery Field 09:35-10:10 Technological Evolution of ESS Batteries in the Context of New Power Systems Guest speaker: Xianghui Meng, Chairman of Aoguan Group 10:10-10:35 Preparation Technology and Applications of High-Capacity, High-Safety Aluminum-Based Lead-Carbon Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Batteries Guest speaker: Zhongcheng Guo, Professor at Kunming University of Science and Technology 10:35-11:00 New Electrolyte Systems: Breakthroughs from Liquid to Quasi-Solid-State 11:00-12:00 Roundtable Discussion: Exploring the Possibility of Standardising the Entire Lead-Acid Battery Industry 13:30-13:55 Global Competitive Landscape of Power Battery Materials: A Comparison of Technological Routes in China, Japan, South Korea, and Europe Guest speaker (pending): Yu Wang, Chairman of Farasis Energy and Senior Expert in the Battery Industry 13:55-14:20 New Processes in Lead-Acid Battery Manufacturing: Numerical Simulation and Its Implications Guest speaker: Lixu Lei, Professor at Southeast University 14:20-14:45 High-Power Lead-Carbon Battery Technology: Selection and Composite Processes of Capacitor Carbon Materials Guest speaker (pending): Zhiping Chen, Vice President of Narada Power Research Institute 14:45-15:10 Development and Industrial Application of Low-Cost Reed-Based Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries Guest speaker: Lei Zhang, Associate Professor at Central South University 15:10-15:35 Upgrading of AGM Separator Materials: Composite Technology of Ultra-Fine Glass Fibers and Modified PE Guest speaker (pending): Shijun Yang, Technical Vice President of Leoch International 15:35-16:00 Breakthroughs in Lead-Carbon (Lead-Carbon) Batteries in the ESS Sector Representative Companies Huayu New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Shandong Kangyang Power Co., Ltd. Breton Technology Co., Ltd. Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. Tianneng Battery Group Co., Ltd. Chilwee Power Group Co., Ltd. Fengfan Co., Ltd. Chilwee Power Group Co., Ltd. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. Hebei Aoguan Power Co., Ltd. Changxing Nuoli Power Co., Ltd. Guizhou Hangsheng Lithium Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Camel Group Co., Ltd. Jujuang Power Group Co., Ltd. Hebei Jinli New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Hengyang Ruida Power Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Just Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd. Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao Battery Technology Co., Ltd. Wanxiang A123 Systems Co., Ltd. Shanghai Cairi Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Xupai Power Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., Ltd. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Shuangdeng Group Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited Shanghai Yuling New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Jingjiu Power Technology Co., Ltd. SEVB Shenzhen Sanxing Feirong Machinery Co., Ltd. Shandong Sacred Sun Power Sources Co., Ltd. Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., Ltd. Shandong Yineng Power Co., Ltd. Beijing Wanlong Jingyi Guidance Control Technology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Topband Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Xiangying New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Qingna Technology Co., Ltd. Xilong Scientific Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Zhongna Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Veken Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Xilong Chemical Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Jiana Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Highstar Battery Manufacturing Zhejiang Wynca Group Co., Ltd. Huzhou Yingna New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. Guangdong Nayi New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co., Ltd. Chengdu BSG Technology Co., Ltd. Hangzhou Tianfeng Power Co., Ltd. China Changan Automobile Group Co., Ltd. Guangdong Rongna New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Huzhou Chaona New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Duozhu Technology (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. Shenzhen BTR Sodium New Energy Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Chengxin Lithium Group Co., Ltd. Shandong Lingyishi Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Chengtun Group Co., Ltd. Hunan Lifepo4 New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Suzhou Qingtao New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Wuxi Paragonage New Energy Co., Ltd. Tianmu Lake Advanced Energy Storage Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. East Group Co., Ltd. Tianneng Battery Group Co., Ltd. Beijing HiNa Battery Technology Co., Ltd. Wuhan Topmaterial Technology Co., Ltd.

【SMM Analysis: Behind the Surge in Lead Prices in March 2025: Multi-dimensional Impacts of Supply-Demand Tug-of-War, Policy Benefits, and Environmental Protection-Driven Production Restrictions, and Outlook for April】SMM, March 26: Driven by improved supply-demand dynamics and a favorable macroeconomic environment, the center of lead prices in March 2025 significantly rose compared to February. In early March, the news of the US imposing additional tariffs continued to ferment, increasing market concerns and suppressing the performance of non-ferrous metal futures. After the conclusion of China's Two Sessions, a series of policies to boost consumption were proposed, creating a favorable macro front. However, the imbalance between lead ingot supply increments and raw material supply persisted, leading to a stalemate in the SHFE lead futures market, with the price center hovering around 17,250 yuan/mt. In the spot market, end-use consumption in the lead-acid battery sector remained largely unchanged, with major enterprises maintaining stable production and a weekly comprehensive operating rate of 70-80%. As the traditional off-season approaches, dealers have adopted a cautious approach to procurement, particularly e-bike battery dealers, with most actively maintaining lower inventory levels. Some producers reported a slowdown in new orders, and if battery inventories rise again, production cuts or holidays are being considered for late March.

SMM March 14 News: This week, lead-acid battery manufacturers and dealers primarily focused on raw material prices. Since March, the center of lead prices has gradually shifted upward. Similarly, the prices of raw materials for lead-acid battery production, such as antimony and tin, have also surged significantly, increasing cost pressure on lead-acid battery manufacturers, who are inclined to raise battery selling prices. Currently, some wholesale battery markets have reported price hikes. For instance, e-bike battery dealers are expected to increase wholesale prices by about 10 yuan per unit after March 15, such as 48V20Ah batteries rising to 430 yuan per unit. Regarding raw material procurement, battery manufacturers mainly adopt a purchasing-as-needed model.

SMM March 14 News: According to reports, the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces monitored by SMM was 74.34% during March 8–March 14, 2025, which remained basically stable WoW. Recently, there has been no significant change in end-use consumption in the lead-acid battery market, and production among large enterprises remained relatively stable. As the traditional off-season approaches, dealers have been cautious in their purchases, especially e-bike battery dealers, most of whom actively maintain a relatively low inventory level. Some producers reported a weakening trend in new orders. If battery inventory rises again, they may consider production cuts or holidays in late March. Additionally, this week saw a continuous rise in lead prices, with significant increases in the prices of antimony and tin as well, leading to higher production costs for lead-acid battery enterprises. Some enterprises are inclined to raise battery selling prices, but due to the current weak end-use consumption, most remain in a wait-and-see mode.

SMM March 7 News: According to reports, the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces monitored by SMM from March 1 to March 7, 2025, was 74.34%, a WoW increase of 1.99 percentage points. Entering March, the production of lead-acid battery enterprises showed steady growth, with the overall operating rate further increasing. This week, the main reason for the rise in the operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises was the production increment brought by some enterprises resuming normal production after the holiday. March marks the fiscal year-end for some lead-acid battery enterprises, while the current end-use consumption in the lead-acid battery market remains average, including the e-bike, automotive, and ESS battery markets. Notably, the unfavorable lead domestic-to-foreign price ratio has hindered battery exports, leading some automotive and ESS battery enterprises to face poor export orders. As a result, these enterprises proactively controlled finished product inventories and implemented short-term holidays to reduce inventory at the end of February.

SMM February 14 News: According to reports, the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces monitored by SMM from February 8 to February 14, 2025, was 68.5%, up 27.66 percentage points WoW. This week marks the second week after the Chinese New Year. After the Lantern Festival, lead-acid battery enterprises have basically resumed normal production. Since the Chinese New Year, the operating rate of production lines in lead-acid battery enterprises that resumed earlier has approached full capacity, while those that resumed around the eighth day of the lunar calendar have seen their production line operating rates recover to varying degrees between 50-80%. From the perspective of end-use consumption, the market demand for lead-acid batteries for electric bicycles and automobiles remains weak. Post-holiday restocking by dealers has fallen short of expectations, and finished product inventories in some enterprises remain relatively high.