中国动力电池出海“大考”：企业如何应对回收挑战

Core Insights - The export of power batteries has become a significant aspect of China's manufacturing presence abroad, with the "new three items" (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaics) emerging as new export pillars, contributing over 900 billion yuan in total exports in the first three quarters of the year, with lithium batteries alone accounting for nearly 400 billion yuan [1][2] - The cumulative export of power and other batteries reached 228.1 GWh from January to October this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 43.9%, with power batteries making up 148.5 GWh, or 65.1% of total exports, and a year-on-year growth of 37.2% [2][3] - The introduction of the EU's new battery regulation, which mandates compliance with strict recycling and carbon footprint reporting requirements, poses significant challenges for Chinese battery manufacturers in maintaining competitiveness in the global market [1][4][6] Export Performance - In the first ten months of this year, the cumulative export of ternary lithium batteries was 87.2 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 25.9%, while phosphate iron lithium batteries reached 60.3 GWh, with a remarkable growth of 58.7% [3] - The export market shows a different distribution compared to the domestic market, with a 40-60 split in favor of ternary lithium batteries overseas, contrasting with the 80-20 split seen domestically [3] Regulatory Challenges - The EU's new battery law requires a "battery passport" for exported batteries, detailing the manufacturer, material composition, carbon footprint, and supply chain information, effective from 2027 [1][4] - The law sets ambitious recycling targets, including a 90% recovery rate for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel by the end of 2027, and 50% for lithium, with further increases by 2031 [5] Recycling and Compliance - The need for a robust recycling and compliance system is emphasized, as the current recycling network for Chinese companies abroad is still in its infancy, facing challenges such as limited recovery channels and insufficient local operational experience [5][6] - Industry experts suggest that collaboration among upstream and downstream enterprises is essential for developing a comprehensive battery recycling system and compliance innovation [8] Strategic Recommendations - Recommendations include establishing a national battery recycling platform, creating a national battery bank for lifecycle management, and developing a national data center to support carbon footprint tracking and lifecycle management [8] - The industry is encouraged to enhance the integration of carbon footprint databases and promote international recognition of standards to improve competitiveness in the global market [6][8]