China's battery exports charge to new highs

China’s exports of batteries and battery energy storage systems (BESS) have hit a record in 2025, soaring by 24% from the year before over the first nine months of the year.

- Gavin Maguire

A photo taken on April 23 shows a booth set up by Chinese company CATL -- the world's largest producer of electric vehicle batteries -- at the Shanghai auto show, displays the latest in lithium-ion battery that can be recharged in five minutes.

(THE NEW YORK TIMES)

Batteries have been China's most lucrative clean energy technology export since mid-2022, and so far this year have generated roughly US$60 billion (1.9 trillion baht) in export receipts for the country, data from energy think tank Ember shows.

That compares to battery earnings of just under $48 billion over the same period in 2024, and exceeds China's year-to-date export earnings from electric vehicles, grid components, renewable energy infrastructure and cooling equipment.

China is the global leader in battery technology manufacturing and exports, and is benefiting from a worldwide boom in demand for batteries used in EVs and power networks.

Below is a breakdown of the top markets for China's battery exports, which look set to undergo further steep growth into most major markets heading into 2026.

Twenty-three different nations have bought $500 million or more of China-made batteries so far in 2025, which underscores both the unrivalled reach of China’s manufacturers and how lucrative the battery export segment has become.