China's CATL captures 82% of ternary lithium battery market as production surges in 2026

China's battery maker CATL (宁德时代) saw its share of the ternary lithium‑ion battery market rise to 82.4% in the second quarter of 2026, a record high that far outstrips rivals such as Honeycomb Energy and China Innovation Aviation, whose shares stalled or fell. The surge reflects strong demand for high‑end electric‑vehicle models that use ternary cells and CATL's advances in high‑nickel technology.

At the same time, total Chinese production of power‑plus‑other batteries reached 192 GWh in May 2026, a 38% year‑on‑year increase, and 863 GWh from January to May, up 30% from the previous year. While overall battery growth slowed from earlier double‑digit rates, installation ratios shifted, with ternary battery install rates at 38% and LFP at 37% in May. The data underline the continued expansion of China's EV battery sector despite a modest dip in demand.