Batteries

Batteries Global Market Outlook:

• EVs, one of the major segments for Li-Ion batteries, witnessed a sharp spike in sales globally in 2021 driven by favorable government policies. The governments in Europe and the US have announced their electrification targets for all new cars by 2030-35 coupled with investment in EV charging infrastructure

• Due to COVID-19, battery production is expected to shift back to Japan and Korea for certain products, like consumer electronics. However, China will still remain the leader for battery production for EVs. Increasing adoption and awareness of EVs, government initiatives, and regulations, supporting the adoption of EVs globally, backed by declining prices, are further expected to drive the growth of the Li-Ion  battery market

Market Overview: Batteries (Global)

Increasing adoption of Li-Ion batteries from its end-use markets due to its technical advantages over its counterparts is the primary trend expanding the market growth rate for Li-Ion batteries. Although lithium batteries are used in various medical devices, such as ventilators, which have been critical during the pandemic, however, EVs are the major demand segment for lithium batteries and is expected to significantly dominate the category in the coming years, thereby providing strong growth prospects for Li batteries during 2022–2025.

Market Insights

• The global market size for Li-Ion batteries was estimated at $61.91 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14-16 percent to $94.15 billion by 2025, primarily driven by the demand from EVs 

• EVs, one of the major segments for Li-Ion batteries, witnessed a sharp spike in sales globally in 2021 driven by favorable government policies. The governments in Europe and the US have announced their electrification targets for all new cars by 2030 -35 coupled with investment in EV charging infrastructure

• The growing acceptance of clean energy technology, along with escalating demand for Energy Storage Systems (ESS), is expected to propel the growth in the Li-Ion battery industry. ESS mitigates energy security issues and renders a cost-effective & sustainable solution to meet the growing demand for energy

• Auto and battery makers are presently focusing on reducing cobalt content in batteries on account of legal and reputational risks related to cobalt mining from DRC. Chinese companies such as Huayou Cobalt and CMOC presently dominating cobalt mining in DRC are investing in Indonesia for nickel extraction and processing

Procurement-Centric Five Forces Analysis (Global) on Batteries

Supplier Power

• Presently the supplier power is low due to the battery shortage caused by surging EV demand coupled with raw material availability (especially lithium) and logistics concerns.

• With increasing trend of EV adoption, the supply demand gap is expected to further widen inspite of capacity expansions by suppliers. It is challenging to achieve capacity additions at the same pace as that of demand thus further decreasing supplier power

Barriers to New Entrants

• Players need to have highly skilled R&D team besides continuous R&D investments so as to be at par with the current innovation trends in the industry

• Consequently, it is difficult for new manufacturing firms to enter the market, due to the presence of well-established manufacturers already entrenched in the market and the high costs of R&D investments, patent technologies etc. However, present trend of JV between car makers and battery startups is expected to reduce the barriers to some extent.

Intensity of Rivalry

• The top global and regional manufacturers have similar product portfolios, leading to enhanced competition. Increasing demand for Li-Ion batteries, surging prices, amid industry need for constant technological advancements with respect to cell chemistries, form factors etc. is expected to keep the intensity of rivalry at significantly high levels.

Threat of Substitutes

• Threat of substitutes is quite high with researchers trying to analyze various alternatives, such as sodium-ion, nickel-zinc, proton, aluminium-ion, graphite dual-ion batteries, etc., since producing cheap batteries with enhanced performance having less impact on the environment is the need of the hour. Hence threat of substitutes is expected to remain high.

Buyer Power

• With suppliers struggling to meet demand, the buyers especially the automotive segment enjoys a very high buyer power. The other industry buyers such as Consumer Electronics, Energy Storage etc. have a comparatively lesser buyer power

• However, the buyer power is expected to be moderate as more capacity additions come online backed by increasing prospects of Li-Ion battery recycling and upcoming alternate technologies