China’s Chenyu-Fuji commissioned the first phase of its lithium-ion battery anode materials plant on 1 January with the goal of producing 20,000 mt/year when the facility is completed.
Based in the Hunan province, the factory began production after nine months of building at a cost of 500 million yuan ($72 million).
China is expected to export 850 kilotons of anode materials in 2025, up from 192 kilotons in 2018, according to “Global and China Lithium-ion Battery Anode Material Industry Report, 2019-2025” report from ResearchAndMarkets.com.
The global anode materials supply is led by Shenzhen BTR New Energy Materials, Hitachi Chemical, Shanshan Technology, and Mitsubishi Chemical, who have a combined 67% share of global output, according to the research company.
In 2018, China’s Shenzhen BTR New Energy Materials added 30 kilotons of production capacity, Ningbo Shanshan added 110 kilotons and Jiangxi Zichen Technology added 20 kilotons last year.
Of anode materials, artificial graphite and natural graphite hold a combined share of around 90%, with artificial graphite remaining the mainstay of anode materials in China.
In 2018, China’s shipment of artificial graphite jumped to 133 kilotons.
