China Lithium-Ion Battery Export Data: Jan–Apr 2026
Main Factors Leading to Month-on-Month Decline
- Weak demand from the electric vehicle off-season: April falls within the traditional slow season for automobile sales, resulting in a sequential drop in power battery orders.
- Volatile raw material prices: Lithium carbonate prices fluctuated drastically between March and April, prompting many battery manufacturers to slow down inventory procurement.
- Surging ocean freight rates: The lingering tensions in the Red Sea disrupted Asia-Europe shipping routes, driving many exporters to postpone shipments.
Core Drivers of Year-on-Year Growth
- Irreversible global electrification trend: EV penetration rates keep rising steadily across Europe and Southeast Asia.
- Explosive growth of the energy storage sector: Grid-scale and residential energy storage projects have generated skyrocketing demand for high-capacity lithium batteries.
- Consolidated leading position of China’s supply chain: Over 70% of the world’s power battery production capacity is concentrated in China.
| Lithium-Ion Battery Export Value (Jan-Apr 2025) | |||
| Month | 2024 Export Value | 2025 Export Value | Year-on-Year (YoY) Growth |
| January | 55.85 | 74.41 | 33.22% |
| February | 41.38 | 67.63 | 63.42% |
| March | 57.73 | 97.46 | 68.81% |
| April | 61.42 | 79.77 | 29.89% |
| Lithium-Ion Battery Export Volume (Jan-Apr 2025) | |||
| Month | 2024 Export Volume | 2025 Export Volume | Year-on-Year (YoY) Growth |
| January | 3.62 | 4.58 | 26.61% |
| February | 2.73 | 3.53 | 29.42% |
| March | 3.61 | 4.84 | 34.21% |
| April | 3.61 | 3.82 | 5.78% |
Top Countries for China Lithium Battery Exports: Jan–Apr 2026
| Lithium-Ion Battery Key Regional Market Share (Jan–Apr 2026) | |||
| Rank | Region | Market Share | Core Demand Characteristics |
| 1 | Europe | 45% | World’s largest lithium battery import market, driven by mass EV manufacturing and grid-scale energy storage deployment |
| 2 | Asia-Pacific (APAC) | 30% | Second core growth market, with booming demand from Southeast Asian EV assembly lines and residential solar energy storage |
| 3 | Americas | 14% | North America-led market, demand mainly from industrial backup power systems and small-format consumer lithium batteries |
| 4 | Middle East | 5% | High-growth emerging market, driven by gigawatt-level solar + energy storage integrated utility projects |
| 5 | Others | 4% | Scattered import demand from small regional markets with low single-market shipment volume |
| 6 | Africa | 2% | Early-stage electrification market, core demand from off-grid solar energy storage systems in remote areas |
| Top 10 Countries by China Lithium-Ion Battery Export Value (Jan–Apr 2026) | |||||
| Rank | Country | 2025 Export Value | 2026 Export Value | Year-on-Year (YoY) Change | Core Demand Driver |
| 1 | Germany | 42.13 | 46.66 | +11% | EV manufacturing + utility-scale energy storage deployment |
| 2 | United States | 42.65 | 28.28 | -34% | Policy import restrictions curbing battery shipments |
| 3 | Netherlands | 9.41 | 23.36 | +148% | European transit hub, massive energy storage inventory demand |
| 4 | Australia | 11.99 | 17.95 | +50% | Off-grid residential & large grid-scale energy storage projects |
| 5 | Vietnam | 9.85 | 17.26 | +75% | Local EV assembly lines + low-cost e-bike battery demand |
| 6 | India | 5.66 | 16.38 | +189% | Two-wheeler electrification + domestic energy storage rollout |
| 7 | Japan | 7.09 | 14.61 | +106% | Consumer electronics + hybrid vehicle power batteries |
| 8 | South Korea | 10.13 | 13.17 | +30% | Cell material matching & secondary battery reprocessing |
| 9 | Hungary | 3.85 | 8.08 | +110% | Central European EV manufacturing base + industrial energy storage |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 6.10 | 7.52 | +23% | Home energy storage & new energy passenger car demand |
European Market: Baltic States Phase Out Coal-Fired Power Plants
Lithuania claims the top growth rate across Europe at 2,568.28%, with its lithium battery export value surging from USD 5.57 million to USD 149 million. Moldova and North Macedonia take the second and third spots, posting year-on-year growth of 3,042.22% and 2,125.07% respectively.
This robust expansion is jointly fueled by three key drivers: the rollout of grid-scale energy storage projects under the EU Energy Independence Plan, construction of supporting energy storage facilities as the three Baltic nations retire coal power plants, and accelerated electric bus deployment schemes across the Western Balkans.
Americas Market: PV-ESS Integrated Logistics & Warehousing Projects in Panama
Honduras leads the Americas region with a 697.49% growth rate; its export value climbed from USD 15.51 million to USD 102 million. Panama and the Dominican Republic rank second and third, recording growth of 984.75% and 580.25% correspondingly.
Core growth catalysts include energy storage infrastructure development for the Vaca Muerta shale oil & gas fields, progress on PV-energy storage hybrid logistics and warehousing projects within the Panama Canal Economic Zone, and clean energy retrofitting initiatives for tourist resorts across the Dominican Republic.
Asia-Pacific Market: Energy Storage Supporting Hydropower in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan achieves the APAC region’s staggering top growth rate of 42,980.53%, with export value skyrocketing from merely USD 0.57 million to USD 244 million. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh follow in second and third place, with growth rates of 642.43% and 375.56%.
The demand surge stems from rising storage deployment to offset seasonal hydropower output fluctuations in Central Asia, the resumption of reconstruction aid projects in Sri Lanka post-debt crisis, and the construction of PV-storage demonstration parks within industrial zones in Bangladesh.
Middle East Market: National Green Hydrogen Initiative in Oman
Oman dominates the Middle East with an extraordinary year-on-year growth rate of 4,935.05%. Its export value jumped from USD 8.81 million to USD 444 million, making it the single largest emerging import market covered in this analysis. Lebanon and Azerbaijan secure the second and third positions, with growth hitting 2,075.38% and 658.07%.
Major growth enablers are the full-scale execution of Hydrogen Oman’s national green hydrogen program, disbursement of international reconstruction aid funds for Lebanon, and construction of supporting energy storage facilities for Azerbaijan’s PV industrial parks developed ahead of COP29.
African Market: PV Retrofit for Tourism Infrastructure in Mauritius
Mauritius ranks first in Africa with a growth rate of 5,795.50%; export value rose from USD 0.5 million to USD 29.7 million. Chad and Uganda take second and third place, with growth of 419.30% and 388.84%.
Market expansion is driven by photovoltaic renovation projects for tourism facilities across Indian Ocean island nations, ongoing UN rural electrification programs, and cross-border power grid interconnection infrastructure rolled out by the East African Community.
The United States New Energy Market
The phasing out of federal subsidies coincides with an explosion in AI-driven electricity demand, and the US renewable energy market is shifting from “policy-driven” to “demand-driven”.
| Key Growth Driver | Specific Performance | Demand Boost for New Energy |
| AI Data Center Power Demand | In 2025, global data center power consumption reached 485 TWh (+17% YoY), with AI-specific power use surging by 50%; projected to hit 950 TWh by 2030. | Every 1 GW of data center capacity requires supporting 200-400 MW of photovoltaic (PV) power + 2-4 GWh of energy storage; major tech firms and data center operators are procuring clean power at an unprecedented scale. |
| Manufacturing Reshoring | U.S. domestic industrial power demand continues to rise; in 2025, energy storage surpassed the automotive industry for the first time to become the top driver of battery investment. | Energy storage has evolved from an “energy utility tool” to a “core engine for industrial development”. |
| BESS Policy Locked Through 2035 | The OBBBA extends the 48E ITC (Investment Tax Credit) for energy storage through 2035; standalone energy storage qualified for a 30% ITC immediately upon its first inclusion in the IRA; the 48E Domestic Content Bonus program now covers energy storage systems. | Energy storage is the only segment with long-term policy certainty, providing 10-year level predictability for project IRR; subsidies for PV/wind power will be phased out rapidly after July 4, 2026, leaving energy storage as the sole beneficiary of policy incentives. |
Competitors:
- Short-term: Other Chinese exporters (seizing the window of opportunity)
- Mid-term: US domestic production capacity (Fluence/Tesla/LG/Samsung) + South Korean companies
- Long-term: The entire US supply chain
Recommendations:
- Short-term: Compete on speed and price (US solar/wind power projects starting after July 4, 2026 will lose the IRA core tax credit)
- Mid-term: Compete on certifications and channels (UL certification + local partners)
- Long-term: Compete on system capabilities (localized services + financial solutions + supply chain resilience)
Brazil’s New Energy Market
Solar PV： Distributed PV installations plummeted by 37% in early 2026, while centralized PV capacity doubled. The market is shifting from widespread distributed rooftop solar to a landscape dominated by large ground-mount power plants. Uncompensated power curtailment, steep financing costs at a 15% annual interest rate, and grid interconnection barriers are the three major restraining factors.
Energy Storage： Severe renewable curtailment (26% for solar PV, 19% for wind power) paired with recurrent large-scale blackouts has made energy storage a mandatory asset. Law 15.269 grants standalone storage independent legal entity status together with zero import tariffs, and a total of 18 GW of storage pipeline projects are pending deployment.
| Policy | Content | Status |
| Law 14.300 (Net Metering Reform) | Distributed power generation grid connection is subject to distribution grid usage fees (Fio B), with the 1:1 net metering mechanism to be phased out gradually. | In force, within the transition period |
| PADIS (Semiconductor and Photovoltaic Development Program) | Local assembly meeting the value-added ratio requirement → exemption from II + IPI + PIS/COFINS | Remains in effect |
| Law 15.269 (Energy Storage Legal Framework) | For the first time, BESS is established as an independent entity (on par with power generation/transmission/distribution/consumption), import tariffs reduced to zero + included in the renewable energy tax exemption scope | Promulgated in November 2025 |
| LRCAP Energy Storage Capacity Auction | First auction held in April 2026, core requirements: ≥30MW capacity + ≥4h discharge duration + round-trip efficiency ≥85%, 10-year contract term, delivery by August 2028 | Public consultation completed |
| Redata Data Center Program | 100% renewable energy usage mandate for data centers → import tariff exemption for servers and cooling equipment + suspension of PIS/COFINS levies | Under implementation |
| Manaus Free Trade Zone | Local production within the zone enjoys IPI/ICMS tax reductions and exemptions | Remains in effect |
Chile New Energy Market
Chile boasts the highest certainty in global energy storage: curtailment of solar power is forcing rigid demand, and regulations are directly targeting long-term energy storage. The market has moved from conceptual narratives to the practical stage of development, construction, and investment.
Curtailment Forces Rigid Demand: Severe curtailment + transmission grid congestion make energy storage a system necessity rather than an option.
Soaring Solar Penetration：Extremely high daily instantaneous usage, continuously increasing grid regulation pressure.
Inflection Point in Investment Structure: Energy storage investment surpasses power generation investment for the first time, shifting the energy structure from “power generation-led” to “power generation + energy storage synergy”.
Breakthrough in Grid Bottlenecks: HVDC backbone projects solve the bottleneck of north-south power transmission, releasing more solar power consumption space in the north.
| Dimension | Core Content | Opportunities/Risks |
| China-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) | The upgraded China-Chile FTA has entered into force, with zero tariffs applied to most PV/energy storage products | No trade barriers, with a significant advantage over Brazil (25% tariff) |
| General Law on Electric Power Services (2024 Revision) | Energy storage is remunerated based on power supply capacity; energy storage with ≥5h configuration receives 100% capacity recognition; capacity subsidies cover 30%-50% of investment costs; standalone energy storage can directly participate in the electricity market | Directly benefits long-duration energy storage (4-5h), with a natural fit for Chinese enterprises |
| Tiered Capacity Recognition | 1h energy storage receives 36% capacity recognition, while 5h and above receives 100% recognition — an institutional binding that “longer duration = higher revenue” | Drives the market to rapidly focus on 4-5h long-duration energy storage |
| 2025-2028 Energy Auctions | CNE plans to tender 22,500 GWh, with a significant net deficit emerging from 2030 | Extremely high certainty in long-term demand |
| Growth in Mining Electricity Consumption | Electricity consumption in the copper mining industry will rise from 27.6 TWh in 2025 to 33.2 TWh in 2034 (+20.2%), with mining green electricity + energy storage as an important sub-market | Rigid demand from high-value mining customers |
| SEC Certification | Mandatory standard covering approximately 100 products including modules, inverters, and energy storage | A local legal representative in Chile is required as the certificate holder |
| Standards | IEC standards are adopted; voltage frequency is 220V/50Hz; all manuals must be in Spanish | Laboratory reports from domestically accredited laboratories are accepted, no need for local repeated testing |
| Certification Mode 6 | Recognition of foreign certificates (TÜV/UL/IEC) + simplified testing for each batch of goods | Preferred path: significantly shortens the certification cycle to around 3 months |
Mexico New Energy Market
Mexico is the second largest renewable energy market in Latin America (after Brazil) and is a high-quality market driven by “high growth + strong policies + Chinese supply chain dominance”, but tariff risks are rising rapidly.
| Dimension | Policy/Project | Core Content & Specific Data |
| Favorable Policies | Carbon Tax Incentive | Renewable energy projects are eligible for carbon tax exemption (approximately USD 3.5 per ton of CO₂); carbon credits can offset 10% of tax payable |
| Foreign Investment Access Modes | ① Full-volume sale of green electricity to CFE; ② Joint venture with CFE (foreign investment ≤46%); ③ Independent Power Producer (IPP) participation in the wholesale market | |
| Risk Barriers | Tariff Barriers | Starting from 2026, tariffs on thousands of commodities including PV modules, electric vehicles, and steel imported from China will be increased from 20% to 50% |
| Localization Requirements | New projects built after 2025 must meet a 30% local procurement ratio | |
| Market Drivers | Installed Capacity Target | 21.8 GW of new clean energy capacity to be added by 2030, with PV accounting for 50% of the share |
| Mandatory Energy Storage | Starting from March 2025, new wind and PV projects must be equipped with energy storage systems with a capacity of ≥30% and a duration of ≥3h | |
| Clean Energy Share | Target share to be increased to 38%, achieving a 4.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions | |
| Electricity Coverage Rate | Target coverage rate of 99%, with more than 500,000 households still without access to electricity at present | |
| Power Grid Stability | Insufficient power grid coverage in northern and south-central mountainous areas, with strong rigid demand for off-grid/distributed PV |
Analysis of Balcony PV and Energy Storage Systems
European balcony energy storage is transitioning from a niche early-adoption segment to a mainstream household standard, with 2026–2027 representing a critical 18–24 month golden window period for accelerated market expansion.
| Dimension | Core Content |
| Stock Market Potential | There are 40 million PV rooftops globally, with an energy storage configuration rate of only 10% (a potential gap of 36 million units) |
| Global Trend | In 2025, the global newly added energy storage capacity will reach 94 GW/247 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 35%; balcony energy storage capacity has doubled for three consecutive years |
| Demand Attribute | Structurally driven rather than subsidy-driven: ① Phase-out of feed-in tariffs → rigid demand for energy storage configuration; ② Sustained high electricity prices → real and stable arbitrage returns; ③ 70% of Europeans live in apartments → plug-and-play solutions are the only viable option |
| Market (Positioning) | Market Status | Q1 Performance | Core Strategy |
| Germany (Core Base Market) | Mature stock market with high barriers to entry | 122% year-on-year growth; the number of registered systems has reached 1.3 million units, with an energy storage configuration rate as high as 70% | 1. Compliance first: Obtain VDE certification2. Brand premium: Target high-end user groups and build a brand moat through localized services and high-quality certification |
| Netherlands (High-Growth Market) | In a period of rapid expansion, with an unsettled competitive landscape | 185% year-on-year growth; Q1 sales volume reached nearly 20,000 units (exceeding the total of the past three years), and monthly sales have surpassed traditional household energy storage | 1. Product differentiation: Prioritize the promotion of models with “smart arbitrage” function2. Rapid volume expansion: Quickly seize market share through cost-effectiveness and channel penetration during the window period before competition solidifies |
| UK (Reserve Market) | The largest untapped incremental market in Europe | 298% year-on-year growth; policy restrictions have just been lifted, and leading brands have not yet made in-depth layout | 1. Channel occupation: The market is in the early stage of opening up, and the top priority is to take the lead in establishing distribution channels2. First-mover advantage: Take advantage of the gap period when major brands are absent to establish a first-mover brand image in the region |
| France / Austria (Supplementary Market) | Long-term focus regions | Steady performance, with small overall volume but relatively stable demand | 1. Sustained attention: Maintain basic business presence as a strategic supplement2. Long-term layout: Launch large-scale expansion around 2027 after the market further matures |
