South Korean battery makers double US ESS market share in 2023

Korean lithium‑ion battery cell exports to the United States rose 71 % year‑on‑year, increasing market share from 5.6 % to 11.4 % and placing South Korea third after China and Japan. The value of imports reached $2.256 billion.

LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On are expanding production capacity to meet the growing ESS demand and to satisfy new supply‑chain rules. LG operates a large‑scale plant in Michigan and has begun shipments from its Polish factory. Samsung SDI is finalising mass‑production of LFP cells in the United States, with a launch slated for October, while SK On will convert a line at its Seosan plant to produce about 3 GWh of LFP ESS batteries each year.

The Korean government, through KOTRA and the Ministry of Trade, is investing roughly 233 billion won in LFP material and cell‑technology development and has introduced a domestic‑production tax credit. Officials note that the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act links tax credits to production volume, prompting Korean firms to localise supply chains. "기업들이 시장 환경에 맞춰 현지화, 생산능력·납기 확보 등 품목별로 차별화된 진출 전략을 마련해야 한다," the report states.