EV Cathode Consumption Reaches 2,261K Tons Through September

November 10, 2026

Industry & Market, Material

Global EV cathode material consumption reached 2,261K tons in January-September 2026, up 21.9% year on year. LFP expanded to 65.5% of demand, while ex-China consumption increased 31.2% to 868K tons and outpaced overall market growth.

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SNE Research reported on November 6, 2026, that global cathode material consumption for electric vehicles reached 2,261K tons in January-September 2026, up 21.9% from 1,855K tons a year earlier. Ex-China consumption increased 31.2% from 662K tons to 868K tons, exceeding overall market growth. Its share of global consumption rose 2.7 percentage points to 38.4%.

Lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, consumption increased 31.3% to 1,482K tons from 1,129K tons. Its share of total cathode consumption rose from 60.8% to 65.5%. In the ex-China market, LFP’s share increased 14.1 percentage points to 35.2%. Most of the overall increase in cathode consumption during the period came from LFP.

NCx ternary cathode consumption rose 7.2% from 726K tons to 779K tons. Among ternary suppliers, Ronbay ranked first with 108.0K tons, followed by Reshine with 84.4K tons. Both recorded 9.8% year-over-year growth. L&F ranked third after increasing 35.2% to 64.9K tons, while Libode recorded the highest growth among the top eight, rising 39.5% to 59.6K tons. Ecopro and POSCO declined 32.4% and 35.6%, respectively.

Global EV cathodes · January–September 2026

EV Cathode Consumption Reaches 2,261K Tons Through September

Consumption rose 21.9% year-on-year, led by faster LFP and ex-China growth.

2,261K tonsGlobal cathode consumptionJanuary–September 2026, up 21.9% from 1,855K tons.

Volume, January–September 2026vs 2025

Hunan YunengLFP supplier352.0K tonsup 34.5%

Wanrun7.7K tons ahead of Lopal206.8K tonsup 22.5%

LopalLFP supplier199.1K tonsup 46.3%

DynanonicLFP supplier158.9K tonsup 8.9%

RonbayNCx supplier108.0K tonsup 9.8%

ReshineNCx supplier84.4K tonsup 9.8%

L&FFrom 48.0K tons64.9K tonsup 35.2%

LibodeHighest growth among NCx top eight59.6K tonsup 39.5%

SumitomoNCx supplier53.2K tonsup 0.1%

LGCNCx supplier50.4K tonsup 4.8%

LFP consumption1,482K tonsUp 31.3% from 1,129K tons; share: 60.8% to 65.5%.

Ex-China868K tonsUp 31.2% from 662K tons; share: 35.7% to 38.4%.

NCx consumption779K tonsUp 7.2% from 726K tons; trailed LFP by 24.1 points.

Chinese share87.2%Korean 9.1%, Japanese 3.7%; previously 83.8%, 12.1%, 4.1%.

Outside the displayed ten, Ecopro recorded 38.5K tons, down 32.4%, and POSCO 34.8K tons, down 35.6%.

Regional rules reshape supplyLocal production will become critical as the EU battery passport starts in February 2027 and China’s export-control suspension lasts until November 10 this year.

EV Cathode Consumption Reaches 2,261K Tons Through September · BatteryTech Network

Among LFP suppliers, Hunan Yuneng ranked first with 352.0K tons, up 34.5%. Wanrun followed with 206.8K tons, while Lopal reached 199.1K tons after growing 46.3%. Dynanonic ranked fourth with 158.9K tons. Gotion and Shenghua Tech increased their volumes by 53.6% and 69.1%, respectively.

Chinese suppliers accounted for 87.2% of global cathode consumption by supplier nationality, up from 83.8% a year earlier. Korean suppliers’ share declined from 12.1% to 9.1%, while Japanese suppliers’ share fell from 4.1% to 3.7%.

The report noted that lithium carbonate prices have fallen sharply since September, potentially affecting cathode selling prices linked to raw material costs. It also identified regional production and product portfolios aligned with supply-chain rules as expected competitive factors.

Source: sneresearch.com