According to Reuters, China’s lithium-ion battery exports reached record levels in the first ten months of 2025, driven largely by surging demand for stationary energy storage systems, official customs data shows. From January through October, battery exports rose 47% year-on-year to about 78 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Shipments intended for grid-connected and behind-the-meter energy storage applications more than doubled, climbing 102% to roughly 28 GWh.
Exports of batteries for electric vehicles also increased, albeit at a more modest pace of 12%, to approximately 50 GWh. Europe remained the largest destination for Chinese battery cells, accounting for over 40% of total shipments.
Europe’s imports from China climbed 68% compared with the same period last year, as utilities and industrial firms expanded their use of renewable-aligned storage solutions. Other key markets included Asia Pacific and North America, where imports rose 55% and 38%, respectively.
Leading Chinese battery manufacturers benefited from the export surge. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) increased its overseas shipments by 44% to 38 GWh, while BYD’s exports grew 39% to around 15 GWh. Smaller producers such as EVE Energy and Tianjin Lishen also posted significant gains, supported by their focus on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistries favored for stationary storage.
Analysts say global deployment of battery energy storage systems is on track to double by 2027 as governments and utilities seek to integrate higher shares of wind and solar power. However, emerging policy measures in the United States and European Union aimed at fostering local battery manufacturing could limit China’s market share over the long term.
To mitigate trade risks and better serve end users, Chinese firms are investing in overseas gigafactories in Europe and Southeast Asia. With domestic electric vehicle sales growth slowing amid market saturation and reduced incentives, exports have become a critical pillar of growth for China’s battery industry.
Source: Reuters
