CATL(SZ:300750) 3 6 Ke·2025-11-19 08:25Core Viewpoint - The current "battery shortage" is driven by a combination of policy changes, unexpected market growth, industry cycle mismatches, and the explosive demand in the energy storage sector [1][2][5][10]. Group 1: Policy Impact - The countdown to the reduction of the new energy vehicle purchase tax by the end of 2025 is a significant catalyst, leading consumers to rush to buy electric vehicles before the tax benefits decrease [2]. Group 2: Market Growth - In the first three quarters of 2025, China's new energy vehicle sales reached 11.228 million units, a year-on-year increase of 34.9%, with October marking the first time that new energy vehicles accounted for over 50% of total new car sales [3]. - The demand for batteries is particularly high for pure electric vehicles, which saw a growth rate of 44.7%, outpacing the 20.4% growth in plug-in hybrid and range-extended vehicles [3]. Group 3: Industry Cycle Mismatch - The battery industry previously expanded too aggressively, leading to oversupply and price wars, which caused manufacturers to become cautious and delay new production plans [5]. - The rapid market recovery has filled existing capacities, while new production lines take at least 18 months to become operational, creating a supply bottleneck [5]. Group 4: Energy Storage Demand - In the first three quarters of 2025, China's energy storage lithium battery shipments reached 430 GWh, exceeding 30% of the total expected for 2024 [5]. - The shift of some manufacturers' investments towards energy storage has further squeezed the capacity available for power batteries [7]. Group 5: Company Performance - CATL reported a revenue of 104.186 billion yuan for Q3 2025, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, with a net profit of 18.549 billion yuan, up 41.21% [8][9]. - The overall revenue of lithium battery companies in China increased by 14.95% in the first half of 2025, contrasting with a 20.21% decline in the same period last year [10]. Group 6: Supply Chain Strategies - The current battery shortage is not unique to CATL but is a widespread issue across the industry, with many battery companies experiencing high demand [10]. - Automakers are adopting various strategies to secure battery supplies, including self-research, joint ventures, and acquisitions of battery manufacturers [15][18].