Pepco eyes margin boost while EU pushes 20% tariff on Chinese battery imports

Pepco Group CEO Stephan Borchert said the retailer is benefiting from favourable purchasing conditions in China, where suppliers have unused capacity, and from long‑term sea‑transport contracts that help protect costs. The company aims for a gross margin around 51% and is diversifying its supply base while maintaining caution about future quarters, according to CFO Willem Eelman.

At the same time, the environmental lobby Transport & Environment is urging the European Commission to impose a 20 percent duty on batteries imported from China. The proposed tariff is intended to strengthen the EU battery industry, reduce reliance on subsidised Chinese products and could increase the price of electric cars. The measure would also support Poland’s growing battery sector, highlighted by the LG plant near Wrocław, as Chinese battery imports to the EU have risen sharply in recent years.