In 2018, the lithium battery diaphragm industry may suffer a total loss

Data show that from January to November, China's new energy vehicle production and sales were 639,000 and 609,000 respectively, an increase of 49.7% and 51.4%. Corresponding to the rapid growth of new energy vehicle production and sales, the demand for power batteries continues to increase. However, it is understood that the supply of raw materials in the battery industry has not kept pace with the development of the industry. Recently, industry analysts analyzed the future development prospects of new energy vehicles and power battery industry. At the same time, it also proposed that the supply of copper foil and separators for power batteries is unbalanced. The demand for battery copper foil is relatively large for a long period of time. However, it has become saturated, but the new capacity is still expanding, and there may be a loss in the whole industry next year.

Lithium copper foil material gap is larger

It is reported that in 2015, the global lithium battery copper foil supply is 90,000 tons, the demand is 91,000 tons, the gap ratio is 1%; the 2016 supply is 105,000 tons, the gap ratio is expanded to 3%; 2017 supply It is estimated to be 110,000 tons, and the gap ratio will be further expanded to 8%. In China, the growth of new energy vehicle production and sales drove the growth of copper foil production capacity. In 2015, the copper foil production capacity was 59,000 tons, an increase of 19.1% over the previous year, but the increased production capacity still could not meet the demand of the lithium battery industry. During the '13th Five-Year Plan period, the demand for porous copper foils with a thickness of less than 6 microns will further increase.” It is predicted that the supply of copper foil for lithium batteries will be 146,000 tons in 2018, with a demand of 161,000 tons. The gap is further widened. After 2019, the supply imbalance will be alleviated, but there is still a gap of 2% to 3% this year. In addition, the rise in copper prices coupled with the increase in demand for copper foil from power batteries has led to a significant increase in copper foil prices.

The diaphragm industry may suffer a total loss in 2018

Contrary to the shortage of copper foil materials, the other raw material diaphragm of lithium batteries has a phenomenon of oversupply. In lithium batteries, the diaphragm is one of the key inner layer components, and it is also highly demanding. It must resist organic solvent corrosion, maintain permeability to allow ions to pass smoothly, and resist the high temperature generated by electrochemistry. However, diaphragm production capacity has not been limited. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the global battery separator production line is expanding rapidly, and there is already a situation of overcapacity.

“In 2016, the global lithium battery separator capacity was 4.2 billion square meters, and the demand was 3.5 billion square meters. The demand in China alone reached 2 billion square meters. However, the output of domestic diaphragms in China was about 1.2 billion square meters, which led to China. The diaphragm industry relies heavily on imports. However, it is further pointed out that the diaphragm imports are large and the replacement space for domestic products is also large. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles in China, a large amount of investment has begun to enter the lithium battery separator industry, and the construction of the diaphragm industry production line has also been completed constantly accelerating.

It is reported that in March 2017, more than 10 enterprises in China plan to add more than 40 diaphragm production lines with a production capacity of more than 1 billion square meters. Since March, there have been many new builders. For example, Shenzhen Xingyuan Materials will build 6 production lines with a production capacity of 300 million square meters. Shanghai Enjie will invest 5.5 billion Yuan to produce battery separators; Hunan Zhongli will be 16 at the end of 2017. The production line will be put into production. Before June 2018, the production line will reach 20 and the production capacity will exceed 2 billion square meters. Peking University will invest 20 production lines with a production capacity of over 1 billion square meters. Hubei Jiangsheng will invest 4 production lines with a production capacity of over 200 million square meters. “As of the end of October 2017, there have been more than 120 new investment production lines in the country.”

Forecast: "In 2018, an estimated 20 companies are interested in entering the lithium battery separator industry. By then, the national lithium battery separator capacity will reach 8 billion square meters. In 2018, the lithium battery separator industry may suffer a total loss."

The diaphragm industry is affected by the subsidies

Recently, the rumors that the subsidies for new energy vehicles have subsided in advance in 2018 have caused many battery companies to worry. A battery industry insider complained that subsidies have fallen back in advance, and vehicle companies must require battery companies to lower supply prices. In battery materials, there is a large gap in lithium battery copper foil materials, and imports of materials such as positive and negative electrodes are large. With limited space for decline, the diaphragm industry is likely to be the area most affected.

“The rumors of early subsidies for subsidies have prompted many diaphragm manufacturers to re-adjust their production processes. Among them, dry processes are valued by more and more companies.”

The problems faced by the diaphragm industry have been highly valued. "Since May of this year, more than 10 enterprises have given up the investment in the lithium battery diaphragm industry, and many enterprises originally intended to enter the diaphragm production field have gradually become rational under the persuasion. In the future, the lithium battery diaphragm industry needs to focus on improving production efficiency and product quality, reducing costs and controlling risks, rather than capacity expansion."

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