Global Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Market Outlook to 2028

Lithium-ion battery cathodes are in demand due to technological advancements in lithium-ion batteries in durability, compatibility, energy density, efficiency, and low charging times are driving the need for lithium-ion battery cathodes.

Drivers:

• The growing demand for high energy and power density batteries to perform over hundreds of cycles during the charging and discharging of batteries has increased the demand for lithium-ion battery cathodes.
• Growing investment in battery materials manufacturing in various countries improves the battery value chain.
• The Growing R&D on battery materials such as cathode, anode, electrolytes, and others to develop next-generation solutions.
• Growing consumer expectations in automotive OEMs and Electronics increased the demand for high-performance cathode materials.
• End-use industries are increasingly using lithium-ion batteries as energy storage devices.
• Growing demand for energy storage systems in renewables, telecom, data centres, and others.

Batteries work through an electrochemical reaction involving electrolytes (lithium(Li) ions) that flow back and forth from the positive pole (+) to the negative pole (-) to generate electricity. They can be recharged and reused multiple times and used for sustainable power mobility, including EVs, IT devices, diverse home appliances, and other applications.

The primary components of Lithium-ion Batteries are cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators. Lithium-ion batteries have cathodes responsible for the positive charge (+) in batteries. These cathodes determine battery capacity and average voltage.

Cathode materials are key components that determine the composition of negative electrodes. The cathode materials in the crystal structure consisting of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. The main active elements of the cathode were originally cobalt but have been substituted partially with nickel (NCM, NCA), Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO), Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO), and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP).

Properties of Cathode Materials:

• Efficient oxidizing agent.
• Stable when in contact with electrolyte
• Useful working voltage
• Ease of fabrication
• Low cost
• Materials such as metallic oxides are often used as cathodes.

Lithium-ion Battery materials are the basic raw materials and compounds in the battery supply chain, mainly consisting of metals such as Lithium, Nickel, and Cobalt, among others. They are extracted from upstream mining operations that convert seawater brines or mineral ores into processed battery metals. The end products are battery packs used in various end-use industries such as energy storage, consumer electronics, and automotive. 

The growing adoption of electric vehicles among consumers has helped to boost the battery market for energy-saving, pollution-reducing vehicles. In addition to the advanced battery technologies, the number of electric vehicles is constantly increasing thanks to the advantages associated with them, such as the reduced need to maintain the engine, the reduction of hazardous oil waste, and the reduction in pollution caused by fuel combustion engines.

Automotive lithium-ion batteries provide power for electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and their adoption is expected to increase even further in the future.

Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Opportunities:

• Rapid technological development in batteries to meet customer needs has increased the demand for customized products.
• The growing demand for lithium-ion solid-state batteries is increasing the demand for cathode materials in EVs.
• Growing usage of lithium-ion batteries in power backups, mobile, laptops, electric mobility, energy storage systems, and consumer electronic goods.  
• Markets with great potential are China, Germany, America, and others.

Lithium-ion Battery Materials Policies:

• In May 2018, under the European Green Deal policy, the European Commission adopted the strategic action plan on batteries to support the battery value chain in Europe, from raw material extraction, sourcing, and processing, battery materials, cell production, battery systems, and reuse to recycling.
• In November 2021, the United States introduced the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries (FCAB) to bring Federal agencies interested in domestic manufacturing and supply of lithium-ion batteries and are committed to accelerating the development of a robust and secure domestic industrial base.
• In March 2022, India introduced the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage (NPACC) under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to support the battery value chain in India, from raw material extraction, sourcing, and processing, battery materials, cell production, battery systems, reuse to recycling.

Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Challenges:

• The production of lithium-ion battery cathodes depends on a reliable supply of raw minerals and processed functional materials. However, the depletion of mineral reserves in countries, namely India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Argentina, and Indonesia, is likely to deter market growth.
• Low competency in high heat tolerance cathodes is challenging the market. 
• Growing demand for second life EV batteries in energy storage systems.

Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Restraint:

• Growing demand for other batteries such as sodium-ion batteries and flow batteries in energy storage and mobility.

Recent Developments :

• In May 2022, Nano one Materials Corp acquired a 2,400 TPY capacity LFP cathode plant from Johnson Matthey, a chemical manufacturer.
• In May 2021, CATL and Daimler Truck AG announced the joint partnership to supply lithium-ion battery packs for the Mercedes-Benz Actros LongHaul battery-electric truck, which is planned to be ready for series production in 2024.
• In May 2019, Umicore acquired the cobalt refining and cathode precursor from Freeport Cobalt in Kokkola, Finland, for $ 200 million dollars

Regional Market Analysis

The global lithium-ion battery cathode market report is segmented based on geography into North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Rest of North America; Europe, including Germany, France, United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Russia, and the Rest of Europe; Asia Pacific (APAC) including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and Rest of APAC; South America including Brazil and Rest of South America; and the Middle East and Africa including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, and other countries.

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading region in the lithium-ion battery cathode market during the forecast period, followed by North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

China, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea are the major countries in Asia-Pacific with lithium-ion battery cathode and a strong order book.

Asia Pacific:

The Asia Pacific region has countries that have both developing and established battery markets. For instance, countries such as China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and others have an established large-scale ESS market, EV market, and others are increasing the demand for lithium-ion battery cathode market.

The Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest lithium-ion battery cathode market region during the forecast period. With a target to reduce emissions, energy storage systems demand will rise in the power generation sector, and electric vehicle demand will increase in transportation, especially in China, Japan, India, and others.

Blackridge Research's Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Market report provides insights into the current market demand environment and prognosis.

The study thoroughly examines the many factors that impact the development of Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode. The study also comprehensively analyses the Lithium-ion battery cathode by segmenting it based on region (Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle East, Africa), based on technology (Lithium Manganese Oxide, Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese oxide, Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide, Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) oxide, and Others).

The report also discusses current and future market possibilities, trends, advancements, the effect of Covid-19 and the Ukraine and Russian War on the Lithium-ion battery cathode market, essential developments, regions, and segments poised for the fastest growing competitive landscape. Further, the lithium-ion battery cathode market size, and demand forecast, growth rates will also be provided in the report.