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中文Entering Q3 2026, the global lithium battery industry maintains strong momentum, with capacity expansion and technological upgrading advancing in tandem. Latest industry data shows that domestic lithium battery production scheduling has hit a new all-time high, with energy storage demand surpassing automotive batteries for the first time as the top growth driver. Meanwhile, the industrialization of new technology routes such as solid-state batteries and sodium-ion batteries is accelerating significantly, placing the sector in a dual window of capacity release and technological iteration.
Market: Energy Storage Takes the Lead, Monthly Output Exceeds 300GWh
In August 2026, total scheduled production of lithium batteries in China reached approximately 304GWh, up 7.4% month-on-month, far exceeding the market’s earlier forecast of 3%-5% growth. Energy storage cell scheduling reached 125GWh, a net increase of about 10GWh from the previous month, accounting for over 40% of total output and officially overtaking automotive batteries as the primary demand driver.
This round of growth is mainly driven by concentrated stocking for large-scale overseas energy storage projects, with markets such as the United States and the Middle East entering peak delivery periods. Meanwhile, new energy vehicle exports maintain robust growth, reaching 553,000 units in July, a 145.8% year-on-year surge. On the raw material side, lithium prices have entered a new cycle with “clear floors and ceilings”, as domestic environmental regulations and overseas resource nationalism both constrain supply, gradually clarifying the industry’s cost bottom line.
Technology: Multiple Routes Parallel, Industrialization Nodes Approaching
On the technology front, 2026 marks a critical year for the industrialization of multiple battery technology routes. For solid-state batteries (ASSBs), leading Chinese, Japanese and Korean companies have moved beyond laboratory proof-of-concept and entered the engineering validation phase (TRL 5-6). Companies including Toyota, Nissan and Samsung SDI have completed sample validation on pilot production lines, with some automotive-grade performance metrics meeting design targets.
The industrialization of sodium-ion batteries is also accelerating. CATL announced in April 2026 that sodium-ion batteries will enter mass production in the fourth quarter, and has signed the world’s largest 60GWh energy storage sodium battery order. With excellent low-temperature performance, high safety and cost advantages, sodium batteries have broad application prospects in energy storage, power systems in cold regions, and data center backup power.
Additionally, CATL recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with Schaeffler. The two parties will carry out strategic cooperation in battery management systems (BMS) and all-in-one energy storage systems, jointly developing localized electronic control solutions tailored to European automakers and further deepening global 布局.
Industry Benchmark: 2026 World Power Battery Conference Coming Soon
The 2026 World Power Battery Conference will be held in Yibin, Sichuan from September 3 to 4. The conference features 8 thematic sessions covering industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, new energy storage, and battery recycling. It will release key outcomes including the Power Battery Industry Development Index (2026), Power Battery Technology Roadmap, and innovative technologies in the 2026 power battery sector, charting the course for the next phase of industry development.
Overall, the lithium battery industry is transitioning from “volume growth” to “simultaneous improvement in quality and quantity”. The explosion of the energy storage market opens up medium- and long-term growth space, while the diversified iteration of technology routes is reshaping the industry’s competitive landscape. For industry participants, seizing energy storage export opportunities and building next-generation technology reserves will be the core priorities over the next two years.
