Group 1 - Gansu Baiyin, once known as "China's Copper City," is transitioning from resource depletion to high-tech industries, showcasing a transformation from traditional to modern sectors [1][4][17] - The city has established a battery new materials industry cluster, with companies like Times Rui Xiang planning to build a 100,000-ton manganese-based cathode materials production base, achieving the largest single-site capacity in the country [7] - Baiyin's traditional industries are being revitalized, as seen in the ancient brick-making workshop, which has evolved into a large-scale production enterprise, producing 9 million standard bricks annually for historical sites [10][13] Group 2 - The modern agricultural technology demonstration park in Baiyin is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, promoting rural revitalization and training over 4,000 agricultural technicians and new farmers [13] - Baiyin's industrial park is now characterized by "high-tech" as its new identity, with companies like Kangshili producing innovative silicone hydrogel contact lenses, enhancing the development of colored contact lenses in China [4][7] - The city is integrating technological innovation into its industrial transformation, balancing traditional and modern elements to awaken rural vitality and drive economic growth [17]

Core Insights - The battery new materials industry is experiencing rapid growth driven by demand from electric vehicles, energy storage, and consumer electronics, alongside global carbon neutrality goals [1][4][22] - The market size for battery new materials in China is projected to reach 584.94 billion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth rate of 20.5%, and is expected to grow to 672.68 billion yuan in 2025, with a year-on-year growth rate of approximately 15% [4][22] Industry Definition and Classification - Battery new materials refer to innovative materials used to improve or replace key components of traditional batteries, such as lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, aimed at enhancing energy density, safety, cycle life, and fast charging performance [2][4] - These materials can be categorized into positive electrode materials, negative electrode materials, electrolyte materials, separator materials, and other key materials [2] Current Industry Status - The lithium-ion battery has become the mainstream battery in the market, with significant demand and rapid growth [4] - In 2024, China's lithium-ion battery positive electrode material output is expected to reach 3.292 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 32.96%, with phosphate iron lithium accounting for 73.72% of the market share [6] - The output of negative electrode materials is projected to reach 2.115 million tons, with a global market share of 95.9% [6] Industry Chain - The battery new materials industry chain consists of upstream raw materials and equipment, midstream material manufacturing and battery production, and downstream applications and recycling [8] - The upstream includes lithium, nickel/cobalt resources, and graphite, while the downstream focuses on applications in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics [8][9] Competitive Landscape - Major companies in the positive electrode material sector include Hunan Youneng, Defang Nano, and Wanrun New Energy, while leading negative electrode material companies include BTR and Shanghai Shanshan [15][18] - The competition is particularly intense in the positive electrode material sector, especially between phosphate iron lithium and ternary materials [15] Industry Development Trends - The battery new materials industry is set to grow rapidly due to increasing demand from electric vehicles and energy storage, as well as ongoing technological innovations [22][23] - Future developments will focus on higher performance, lower costs, and more environmentally sustainable materials, with emerging technologies like solid-state batteries and sodium-ion batteries presenting both challenges and opportunities [23]