订单“催更” 锂电企业扩产马不停蹄

Core Viewpoint - The lithium battery industry is experiencing a significant investment boom, driven by increasing demand for energy storage and stable growth in power battery installations, leading to a tight supply-demand balance in 2026 [3][4][6]. Group 1: Company Expansion Plans - Longpan Technology has announced plans to build a new production base for high-pressure lithium iron phosphate with an annual capacity of 240,000 tons, with a total investment not exceeding 2 billion yuan [1]. - In addition to the new project, Longpan Technology has previously raised funds to establish projects with annual capacities of 110,000 tons and 85,000 tons of high-performance phosphate-based cathode materials [2]. - The company is also increasing the planned capacity of its Sichuan Suining Phase III project from 62,500 tons per year to 100,000 tons per year, indicating a rapid pace of expansion [2]. Group 2: Industry Investment Trends - Since 2025, the domestic lithium battery industry has seen over 282 publicly announced investment projects, with a total investment exceeding 820 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of over 74% [2]. - The investment trend is not limited to domestic projects; companies like New Zobang are also expanding overseas, with a planned investment of approximately 260 million USD in Saudi Arabia for lithium-ion battery materials [3]. - Major players in the industry, such as Ningde Times and Yiwei Lithium Energy, are establishing operations in countries like Thailand, Spain, and Portugal, further localizing the supply chain [3]. Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The investment surge in the lithium battery sector is attributed to multiple factors, including the explosive growth in energy storage demand, steady increases in power battery installations, and a shift towards a balanced supply-demand relationship [4][6]. - The industry has transitioned from a period of oversupply and price declines to a phase of high capacity utilization and recovery in material prices since the second half of 2025 [4]. - Analysts predict that the supply-demand balance will remain tight in 2026, with potential shortages expected by 2027, as new capacity takes time to come online [6][7].