Core Insights - Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has filed an international patent application for a negative electrode sheet, secondary battery, electric device, and hard carbon material along with its preparation method, with the application number PCT/CN2024/118333 and international publication date set for November 6, 2025 [1][2]. Patent Details - The patent application was submitted on September 11, 2024, and is classified under several international patent classification codes including H01M 4/133 and H01M 10/0525 [2]. - The negative electrode sheet includes a current collector and a film layer made of hard carbon material, which consists of a core and a carbon coating layer. The core is made of porous carbon with specific pore volume and adsorption capacity requirements [2]. R&D Investment and Patent Activity - In 2023, CATL has published a total of 1,280 international patent applications, marking a 20.41% increase compared to the same period last year [1]. - The company invested 10.095 billion yuan in research and development in the first half of 2023, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 17.48% [1].

Core Viewpoint - Zhuhai Guanyu has acquired at least three Chinese patents from Panasonic, which may significantly impact the patent landscape in the lithium battery industry [2]. Group 1: Patent Acquisition - The three patents acquired by Zhuhai Guanyu include: "Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL201880018653.9), "Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL200880001215.8), and "Lithium Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL200710008331.X) [2]. - The transfer of these patents from Panasonic to Zhuhai Guanyu occurred between June and July of this year, but the corresponding U.S. patents have not yet been recorded as transferred [2]. Group 2: Panasonic's Patent Strategy - Panasonic has been actively monetizing its patents through various methods, including bilateral litigation and patent pools [2]. - Panasonic, along with LG, established the Tulip patent pool to promote licensing of lithium battery patents, aiming to collect licensing fees from Chinese battery manufacturers [2]. - Recently, two Chinese companies, Zhuhai Guanyu and BAK Battery, have joined the Tulip patent pool, indicating a strategic move in the industry [2].

Core Insights - The July import price index in South Korea rose to 134.87, marking a 0.9% month-on-month increase, ending a five-month decline since February [1] - The rise in import prices was influenced by increases in international oil prices and the Korean won's exchange rate against the US dollar [1] - The July export price index also increased by 1.0% to 128.19, ending a four-month downward trend [1] Import Price Details - Raw material prices increased by 1.5%, while intermediate goods, capital goods, and consumer goods rose by 0.6%, 0.5%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Notable price increases were observed in methyl ethyl ketone, precious metal refining products, flash memory chips, and secondary batteries [1] - The exchange rate of the Korean won against the US dollar rose by 0.6%, and the average price of Dubai crude oil increased by 2.3% [1] Export Price Details - Agricultural, forestry, and fishery products saw a price increase of 4.2%, while mining products rose by 1.0% [1] - Significant price increases were noted in computers, electronics, optical instruments, coal, and petroleum products, with frozen seafood, diesel, and DRAM also showing notable rises [1] Trade Indices - In dollar terms, the July import quantity index and value index increased by 7.8% and 1.8% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The export quantity index and value index rose by 8.2% and 4.3% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The net commodity trading conditions index increased by 2.1% year-on-year, marking 25 consecutive months of growth, attributed to a larger decline in import prices compared to export prices [1] - The income trading conditions index rose by 10.5% year-on-year, benefiting from the increases in net commodity trading conditions and export quantity index [1]