China's lithium-ion battery exports performed strongly in January and February

In January and February 2026, China's lithium-ion battery exports reached 811 million units, a year-on-year increase of 27.82%; the export value was US$14.204 billion, a year-on-year increase of 46.28%, showing a strong overall performance with both volume and price increases. The reduction in domestic export tax rebates triggered a rush to export, with companies delivering orders ahead of schedule, boosting export volume in the short term. Simultaneously, the reduction in import tariffs on recycled black powder and the inclusion of energy storage in the national strategy promoted the industrialization of solid-state/semi-solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the strengthening of export controls on high-end batteries and equipment forced the industry to shift from scale expansion to technology and quality upgrades. However, it is also worth noting that trade barriers are continuously escalating: the EU's implementation of carbon footprint disclosure requirements, the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) emphasizing localization, and subsidies provided by Japan and South Korea to their domestic supply chains have all raised the entry barriers for Chinese batteries. In addition, there are disturbances on the resource side; for example, Zimbabwe's suspension of lithium ore exports has pushed up raw material prices in the short term. These multiple factors will inevitably force Chinese companies to accelerate their diversified overseas expansion and promote the restructuring of the supply chain.

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In January and February 2026, Guangdong Province was the largest source of China's lithium-ion battery exports, with an export value of US$3.873 billion, a year-on-year increase of 76.76%, accounting for 27.3% of China's total lithium-ion battery exports; the export volume was 268.0923 million units, a year-on-year increase of 28.71%. Fujian Province ranked second, with an export value of US$2.764 billion, a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.73%, accounting for 19.5% of China's total lithium-ion battery exports; the export volume was 55.1789 million units, a year-on-year increase of 2.82%. Jiangsu Province ranked third, with an export value of US$1.784 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32.79%, accounting for 12.6% of China's total lithium-ion battery exports; the export volume was 149.814 million units, a year-on-year increase of 16.36%. The combined lithium-ion battery exports of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangsu provinces accounted for 59.3% of the national total, a decrease of 5.8 percentage points year-on-year.

In January and February 2026, the three provinces with the largest increases in export value were Chongqing, Hubei, and Zhejiang, with export values increasing by 537.17%, 180.44%, and 123.27%, respectively. The three provinces and municipalities with the largest increases in export volume were Anhui, Zhejiang, and Chongqing, with export volumes increasing by 213.09%, 77.9%, and 64%, respectively.