This is what AUZ is competing with. Ecoprobi and L&F are current suppliers of cathode materials to SKI. Along with others, they have huge expansion plans over the next few years.
The battery market to grow ... The cathode market also 'grows up' High Nickel cathode materials makers' attention
As the battery market for EVs grows, the battery material market is also attracting attention. LG Chem, Samsung SDI, and SK Innovation are continuing to announce aggressive investment plans, and companies that supply battery core materials to these battery makers are attracting attention. Growth potential is also expected for cathode producers, which determine battery capacity.
The anode is one of the four components of the battery (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator). The anode is mainly composed of lithium oxide combined with lithium and oxygen. The cathode material (cathode active material) is made of a combination of lithium and metal components, and depending on how the metal is assembled, battery density difference occurs. According to the industry, cathode materials account for 40% of battery manufacturing costs for this reason.
There are five types of anode materials. (Nickel cobalt manganese), NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum), LMO (lithium manganese oxide), and LCO (lithium cobalt oxide) are used to make a combination of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese ), And LFP (lithium phosphate).
▲ Production volume of global cathode materials makers. Source: SNE Research
High Nickel cathode attracts attention
Nickel is used for the production of an active material used as a secondary battery cathode material. The higher the nickel specific gravity, the higher the battery density. In order to increase the distance traveled by the electric car battery, the nickel content should be increased. The high nickel anode material means a cathode active material having a specific gravity of 70 to 80% or more of nickel in the material. Normally, NCM (nickel cobalt manganese) and NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum) are used as the cathode active material.
The use of high nickel anode materials can improve battery energy density, increase safety and lifetime, and reduce costs. For this reason, the nickel anode material has become the most widely used anode material at present.
In the early 1990s, LCOs with good energy capacity and long life characteristics were widely used. As the risk of ignition and explosion increased, LCO, LMO and LFP materials were developed from the end of the 1990s. In the early 2000s, NCA appeared.
The NCA cathode material combines the advantages of nickel energy density and inhibition of nickel atom movement in cobalt and aluminum, resulting in high energy density and high power output in secondary batteries. NCM emerged in the late 2000s to improve NCA's safety concerns. High nickel anode materials can help reduce costly cobalt content and improve price competitiveness.
▲ Researchers are looking at batteries at LG Chemical's Ochang battery plant. Source: LG Chemical
Representative anode materials manufacturer ECOPRO BMI · L & F
According to Hanhwa Investment & Securities, domestic high-nickel cathode material makers are expected to produce massive cathode materials from this year and next year due to capacity expansion in 2018. Currently, the major high nickel anode materials makers in Korea are ECOPROBE and ELENEPH. Ecoprobi is the only company in the world capable of producing NCA and NCM811 with nickel content of 80 to 90% or more. It is said that ELENF has facilities to mass produce NCM cathode materials with a nickel content of more than 70 ~ 80%.
Hanwha Investment & Securities said, "Ecopro BI's annual high nickel anode material production is expected to increase from 30,000 tons this year to 180,000 tons in 2023." It is expected to increase to 60,000 tons by the year. " ECOPROBE's NCA production is expected to top global production this year due to recent expansion.
"We expect Ecopro BM to maintain its position as a leading supplier in the high nickel cathode material market," said Hanhwa Investment & Securities. "The NCA cathode material market is dominated by three oligopolistic markets, including Ecoprobi, that account for more than 90% of the market. NCA production is expected to grow to the top of the global market this year. "
According to market researcher SNE Research, Ecopro Bm ranked 5th and L & F 7th and 8th in global cathode materials production such as NCM in 2018. SNE Research forecasts that China's ShanShan will top this year. Umicore, which ranks first in 2018, is expected to drop to second place this year.
According to Korea Investment & Securities, demand for global cathode materials is projected to grow at a CAGR of 35% from 311,000 tons in 2017 to 3.41 million tons in 2025.
An industry observer said, "As the production volume of Korean electric car battery manufacturers increases, we expect the growth of companies producing materials at the same time."
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