LIB has become mainstream of secondary battery as its excellent performances. LIB mainly has four key materials, which are separator, electrolyte, cathode material and anode material. Jan-Nov 2018, China NEV production and sales amount exceeds 1M, YOY increase more than 60%. ASIACHEM believes that, China NEV production and sales amount will exceed 1.1M in 2018. MIIT estimates that, China NEV production and sales amount will exceed 2M in 2020. Base on this, many power batteries and materials enterprises largely expand capacities to meet future requirements.
ASIACHEM <China LIB Separator Annual Report 2018> shows that, up to Nov 2018, China LIB separator capacity has reached 5.66bnm2/a, among, wet process separator capacity is 3.79bnm2/a; it is estimated that, in 2019, China LIB separator capacity will reach 8.91bnm2/a.
In fact, China LIB separator capacity exists situation of insufficient high-end capacity and excess low-end capacity. ASIACHEM research indicates that, requirement of China LIB separator in 2017 was 1.794bnm2, yet, capacity has reached 2.92bnm2/a. Before, in Jan 2018, Chuangxin New Material stated that, the company decreased 20% of average price of the products, which would directly lead industry competition intensify.
In Dec 2018, Shenzhen Senior stated that, in 2018, separator industry homogenization competition was fierce, it is prospected that separator price will still show decreasing trend in 2019, different enterprises face difference choices and by 2020, separator industry will show clearly distribution.
To LIB separator future development trend, ASIACHEM <China LIB Separator Annual Report 2018> comes up with views as below.
1) In the next 5 years, polyolefin route separator will continue occupying mainstream. And in new increase capacity, wet process LIB separator will occupy main market.
2) Under new energy vehicle subsidies’ decreasing and vehicle used power battery cost’s dual pressures, enterprises need to continue investing on technology R&D, persistent pursuit on separator quality control and deep understanding on clients’ requirement, so that they can make themselves show up in fierce market competition.
3) Even those enterprises which have capital advantage and technical precipitation, it may not smooth to develop LIB separator project. Besides, LIB enterprises should set up closer cooperation relationship with battery enterprises.
