China tops Korea in rechargeable battery output

HONG KONG (Yonhap) -- China produced the largest amount of rechargeable batteries globally during the first half of this year, surpassing Korea, a market report showed Thursday.

China shipped 870 million battery cells in the January-June period, compared to Korea's 841.6 million cells and Japan's 639 million cells, according to the report by SNE Research, a market researcher on renewable energy.

Rechargeable batteries are used to power mobile devices and electric cars.

China's growth was attributed to rising domestic demand for rechargeable batteries as more Chinese consumers buy portable devices, such as smartphones or tablet PCs.

Amperex Technology Ltd. and Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., the two major Chinese battery makers, have also begun to supply their products to global firms, including iPhone maker Apple Inc.

Last year, South Korea led the rechargeable battery market with 1.75 billion cells, accounting for 33 percent of the global market.

China ranked second, producing 1.7 billion cells, equivalent to 32.1 percent. Japan followed with 1.55 billion, making up 29.2 percent.

The three East Asian countries made up almost 95 percent of all rechargeable batteries produced globally.

While small lithium-ion batteries, mostly used in mobile phones, make up the majority of total production, more manufacturers are shifting to large and more expensive nickel-metal hydride batteries for electric vehicles. (Yonhap)