Core Viewpoint - Several leading lithium iron phosphate (LFP) companies have announced production halts for maintenance, raising questions given the booming downstream demand for batteries, particularly in energy storage [1] Group 1: Company Actions - 德方纳米 plans to conduct annual equipment maintenance starting January 1, 2026, for approximately one month [1] - 湖南裕能 also announced maintenance for some production lines starting January 1, 2026, expected to last one month [1] - 万润新能 has similarly declared a reduction in production for maintenance [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The LFP industry leaders are reducing production despite a surge in downstream demand, which is experiencing explosive growth, particularly in energy storage batteries [1] - There has been a "chip shortage" phenomenon in the industry, indicating high demand levels [1] - The primary goal of these production halts is to strengthen negotiation leverage for price increases with downstream customers [1] Group 3: Pricing Trends - In December, several leading LFP manufacturers initiated a price increase trend, with product processing fees set to rise starting January 2026 [1]