高工锂电·2025-04-06 09:29Core Viewpoint - The lithium industry in China is facing cyclical challenges, prompting leading companies Ganfeng Lithium and Tianqi Lithium to focus on next-generation battery technologies, particularly solid-state batteries with an emphasis on lithium sulfide and lithium metal anodes [2][8]. Group 1: Ganfeng Lithium's Strategy - Ganfeng Lithium emphasizes its vertical integration capabilities in the solid-state battery sector, covering the entire supply chain from lithium sulfide raw materials to battery systems [2]. - The company has achieved mass production capabilities for battery-grade lithium sulfide in 2022, with plans to scale production to hundreds of tons by 2024, offering a product purity of 99.9% and a particle size of less than 5 microns [2][3]. - Ganfeng Lithium's solid electrolyte technologies include sulfide, oxide, and polymer systems, with sulfide electrolytes achieving a conductivity of 3 mS/cm and oxide electrolytes reaching 1.7 mS/cm at room temperature [3]. - The company has a 4 GWh hybrid solid-liquid battery production line in Jiangxi and is expanding its lithium metal production capacity to 2,150 tons [3]. Group 2: Tianqi Lithium's Developments - Tianqi Lithium is also focusing on lithium sulfide and lithium metal for solid-state battery materials, having developed new battery-grade lithium sulfide products and completed the necessary industrialization processes [5]. - The company has a production capacity of 600 tons per year for lithium metal at its Chongqing facility and is working on a project to increase capacity to 1,000 tons [5]. Group 3: Market Demand and Growth Projections - The demand for lithium sulfide is projected to reach 13,000 tons by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 250% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the anticipated growth in solid-state battery shipments [6]. - The demand for lithium metal anodes in solid-state batteries is expected to reach approximately 26,300 tons by 2030, with a market size of around 18.4 billion RMB and a CAGR exceeding 300% from 2024 to 2030 [6]. - Solid-state batteries using lithium metal anodes are estimated to require about 1,455 tons of lithium equivalent (LCE) per GWh, significantly higher than traditional lithium batteries [6]. Group 4: Industry Challenges and Strategic Shifts - Both Ganfeng and Tianqi Lithium faced severe operational challenges in 2024, with Tianqi reporting a 68% decline in revenue and a net loss of nearly 8 billion RMB, while Ganfeng experienced a 42% revenue drop and a net loss of approximately 2.1 billion RMB [7]. - The companies are shifting their strategies to explore new business areas and demonstrate growth potential, particularly in high-value solid-state battery materials, as traditional lithium resource management becomes less profitable [8].