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CATL expands sodium-ion storage and lithium output

Overview

CATL is aggressively diversifying its battery portfolio while maintaining market dominance. In mid-2026, the company launched mass production of sodium-ion cells, targeting a 600 km range and securing a 60 GWh contract. Its ‘One Shell, Two Cells’ architecture allows manufacturers to switch between lithium-ion and sodium-ion chemistries seamlessly. For long-term strategy, CATL unveiled a lithium-air roadmap, though CEO Robin Zeng warned that pure solid-state batteries are unlikely to reach the mass market before 2030.

On the commercial front, CATL’s TENER sodium-ion storage systems are being deployed globally, including a 5 GWh rollout in Europe with Alfen and a partnership with Octopus Energy for electric truck battery-swap stations. The company also reported record Q1 2026 profits, exceeding the combined earnings of China’s top seven automakers. To stabilize its supply chain, CATL joined an alliance of Chinese manufacturers pledging 60-day supplier payments and invested in New Zealand’s CarbonScape to develop bio-graphite.

However, the lithium market faces significant supply disruptions. Uncertainty regarding the restart of CATL’s Jianxiawo mine in China’s Jiangxi province has intensified. Although the mine secured a safety production permit in late June, regulators have since revoked its environmental approval, forcing the facility into care and maintenance. This follows a brief, informal restart in July that reportedly bypassed disputes regarding the mine’s tailings pond.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has significantly downgraded the site’s 2026 output forecast from 62,500 tonnes to 32,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). With the mine accounting for roughly 4% of global supply, the shutdown threatens to tighten global lithium availability through 2027, especially as the environmental review process may extend into next year.

Entities

Jianxiawo lithium mine · Benchmark Mineral Intelligence · CATL · Sunwoda · Zimbabwe

Timeline

  1. 9 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    CATL’s Jianxiawo lithium mine loses environmental approval

    China’s largest lithium mine, CATL’s Jianxiawo facility, has halted production after regulators revoked its environmental approval, leading to significant downward revisions in supply forecasts.

  2. 29 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    CATL mine shutdown threatens global lithium supply

    The prolonged shutdown of CATL’s Jianxiawo lithium mine threatens global supply through 2027, potentially risking 60,000 tonnes of LCE amid upcoming export bans in Zimbabwe.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Lithium Prices Fall as China’s CATL Mine Restarts and Global Supply Rises

    Lithium prices dropped nearly 30% to five‑month lows as CATL’s Chinese mine and Australian operations restart, raising oversupply worries amid strong EV demand.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    CATL drives European rollout of sodium‑ion storage and electric‑truck battery‑swap networks

    CATL partners with Dutch Alfen to deploy 5 GWh of sodium‑ion storage in Europe and with UK Octopus Energy to launch battery‑swap stations for electric trucks, aiming to reshape energy and transport markets.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    China lithium futures plunge to five‑month low as oversupply looms

    China lithium futures hit a five‑month low as analysts warn of oversupply by 2027, citing a resuming CATL mine, upcoming battery tax and a drop in spot carbonate prices.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Chinese battery makers secure multi‑gigawatt overseas storage contracts

    Chinese battery firms CATL, Trina and LG Energy secure over 7 GWh of overseas storage deals in Europe and the US, while Hoymiles expands in the Philippines; Hithium notes Europe’s booming C&I BESS market and a

  7. about 2 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    CATL and Alfen agree to deploy 5 GWh sodium‑ion storage in Europe

    CATL and Alfen signed a MoU to roll out 5 GWh of sodium‑ion battery storage in the Netherlands and Western Europe from 2027, marking the first European deployment of CATL’s Tener Sodium system.

  8. 2 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 10 sources
    CATL unveils sodium‑ion grid storage system, driving global energy‑storage growth

    CATL launches a commercial sodium‑ion grid‑storage system as China, the US, Switzerland and the UK roll out new battery projects and financing deals, signalling a shift toward safer, cheaper energy storage.

  9. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    CATL invests 20% in New Zealand's CarbonScape

    CATL and Lochpine Capital acquire a combined 20% stake in New Zealand's CarbonScape, aiming to scale bio‑graphite production for batteries by 2029‑30, diversifying the global graphite supply chain.

  10. 2 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    European Battery Recycling Expands to Cut Dependence on China

    China supplies most battery raw materials; Europe is expanding recycling with new plants in Germany, France, Belgium and Sweden to cut imports and aims to avoid over 80 kt of lithium imports by 2035.

  11. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Chinese Battery Makers Capture Over 70% of Global EV and Storage Markets

    Chinese firms controlled about 73% of the EV‑battery market and 76% of the global BESS integrator market in 2025‑26, with CATL leading at 40.2% share and BYD rising in storage rankings.

  12. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    China battery makers commit to 60‑day payments for suppliers

    Eleven Chinese battery firms, led by CATL and BYD, pledged to pay SMEs within 60 days and speed up inspections, aiming to improve supply‑chain liquidity and curb excess competition.

  13. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Automakers and tech firms push battery recycling standards and data-driven vehicle services

    CATL forms a battery‑circular‑economy alliance with major automakers and tech firms, while the automotive sector pivots to data as a key asset under emerging EU rules.

  14. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    China's lithium supply surge fuels global clean‑energy trade shift

    Lithium futures fell 10% on speculation of CATL’s Jianxiawo mine restart, while Chinese solar and battery exports to the US surged, underscoring China’s growing dominance in the global clean‑energy supply chain

  15. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    CATL’s sodium‑ion battery breakthrough cuts costs and boosts performance

    CATL unveiled a commercial sodium‑ion battery system, cutting costs to $51‑59/kWh and delivering 175 Wh/kg performance, positioning the chemistry for EVs and data‑center storage.

  16. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    CATL rolls out sodium‑ion storage system and pushes solid‑state battery mass‑production to 2030

    CATL unveiled a 30 MWh sodium‑ion storage system for 2026‑27 and said solid‑state batteries won’t be mass‑produced until after 2030.

  17. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    CATL's TENER Sodium storage system targets 1 ¢/kWh, promising cheap grid power

    CATL unveiled the TENER Sodium grid‑scale storage system, a sodium‑ion battery with >30 MWh per unit and claimed costs near 1 ¢/kWh. First deliveries start in China in late 2026, with global rollout planned for

  18. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    China's EV Battery Industry Expands with Local Zone Support and New Recycling Rules

    China’s local development zones have helped CATL become a global battery leader, while new Chinese rules push shredding of used EV batteries to recover metals, contrasting with Western reuse policies.

  19. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    CATL launches Tener sodium‑ion energy storage system in Munich

    China’s CATL unveiled the Tener sodium‑ion energy storage system in Munich, highlighting 30 MWh modules, a 15,000‑cycle life and safety benefits, with a China launch in September 2026 and worldwide rollout in 7

  20. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    CATL launches new sodium‑ion battery storage system targeting 1 GWh shipments this year

    CATL unveiled a sodium‑ion battery storage system, targeting 1 GWh shipments this year with first deliveries in China in September and a 60 GWh three‑year supply deal.

  21. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    CATL profits outpace major Chinese automakers in Q1 2026

    CATL posted a Q1 2026 net profit of about US$3 billion, surpassing the combined profit of seven Chinese automakers and capturing 46% of China’s battery market and 40% globally.

  22. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    CATL posts $3 bn Q1 profit, beating combined earnings of China’s top EV makers

    CATL earned a $3 bn net profit in Q1 2026, outpacing the combined profit of China’s top EV makers, while holding a 46% battery‑market share and expanding joint ventures and swap stations.

  23. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    CATL's Q1 profit surpasses combined earnings of China’s top seven automakers

    CATL posted Q1 2026 net profit of 20.7 bn yuan (~15.7 bn BRL), beating the combined profit of seven Chinese automakers, while installing 60 GWh of batteries and holding a 46.4% market share.

  24. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    CATL warns solid‑state EV batteries won’t hit mass market before 2030

    CATL says solid‑state EV batteries are still in lab testing, unlikely for mass market before 2030 and will first appear in premium cars above 250,000 yuan.

  25. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    China's CATL captures 82% of ternary lithium battery market as production surges in 2026

    CATL's ternary lithium battery share hit 82.4% in Q2 2026 while China’s overall battery output rose 38% YoY in May, highlighting rapid sector growth amid easing demand.

  26. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    CATL launches commercial sodium‑ion battery storage systems

    CATL will begin delivering commercial sodium‑ion battery storage in September, introduces a versatile cell architecture, and expects cost parity with LFP by 2026, aiming for up to 30% lower prices and a 30‑40%‑

  27. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    CATL ramps up sodium‑ion battery production while GM readies low‑cobalt LMR cells for EVs

    CATL will mass‑produce 600 km‑range sodium‑ion batteries and push lithium‑air research, while GM readies low‑cobalt LMR cells for EVs by 2028, signaling a cost‑focused shift in battery tech.

  28. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    CATL unveils lithium‑air battery roadmap, promising ultra‑high energy density

    CATL says lithium‑air batteries, using air as the cathode, could reach 12 kWh/kg energy density and 1,600 km EV range, but commercial rollout isn’t expected before the next decade.

  29. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    CATL launches mass production of sodium EV batteries as global recycling market expands

    CATL begins mass production of sodium EV batteries, backed by a 60 GWh contract and a 600 km range goal, as the global EV battery recycling market sees rapid growth and major OEM involvement.

Sources

199it.com · 36kr.com · ad-hoc-news.de · automobile-propre.com · autopro.hu · autoszektor.hu · batteriesinternational.com · beiner.substack.com · blog.chip.de · blogspan.net · businessdaily.gr · cafef.vn · carsifu.my · cn.nytimes.com · cnevpost.com · deltaenergie.it · digitaltrends.com · disclosed.ca · dsf.dk · dunya.com · duurzaam-ondernemen.nl · ecomento.tv · electrek.co · electrive.com · en.tempo.co · energieleben.at · energy-storage.news · energytrend.com · es.motor1.com · evertiq.com · faz.de · finance.technews.tw · forococheselectricos.com · geeky-gadgets.com · gewinnermagazin.de · hibridosyelectricos.com · insideevs.it · investingnews.com.au · it-boltwise.de · ithome.com · kapitalmarktexperten.de · mijntip.nl · mineralprices.com · mineriaenlinea.com · mining.com · miningindex.co.zw · motorimagazine.it · newmobility.news

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history