Weak Demand Dominated Weekly Coke Price Trend, Production Resumptions and Supply Increase Put Future Market under Pressure [SMM Lithium Battery Anode Raw Material Market Weekly Review]

U.S. automotive giant General Motors (GM) has announced an investment in U.S. startup Peak Energy and plans to advance the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries, primarily for energy storage systems (ESS), with deployment targeted after 2029. This marks the first meaningful entry of a non-Chinese automaker into the field and is prompting Korea’s battery industry to incorporate sodium-ion technology into its strategic priorities, even as it accelerates efforts to catch up in LFP. Unlike ternary batteries (NCM/NCA) and LFP, which rely on lithium, sodium-ion batteries use more abundant and lower-cost sodium as a substitute, offering advantages such as greater supply chain stability, better low-temperature performance, and enhanced safety—making them particularly suitable for large-scale energy storage applications. At the same time, increased volatility in lithium prices has further strengthened the cost competitiveness of sodium-ion batteries. Korean players including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On have already accelerated their efforts, aiming to advance sample production or commercialization around 2027. Overall, GM’s entry signals that a technology pathway previously dominated by Chinese companies is becoming globalized, and it is likely to push Korean battery manufacturers to accelerate adjustments to their technology and product portfolios.

On June 15, EVE Energy disclosed its performance forecast for the first half of 2026. During this period, the net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company is expected to reach between 3.130 billion yuan and 3.371 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 95% to 110%. The performance growth is primarily attributed to product iteration, service upgrades, and process optimization, with operating revenue increasing by approximately 60% year-on-year in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, in the face of upward pressure on supply chain costs, EVE Energy effectively cushioned the impact of material cost fluctuations through diversified supply chain layouts, strategic procurement, and the prudent use of financial instruments, ensuring the stability of profitability in its core business.

Recently, the pre-approval public notice for the environmental impact report of the Kaiyang "Phosphorus-Titanium-Iron-Lithium" Coupling Cyclic Integration Project's annual 150,000-ton battery-grade lithium carbonate project (Phase I: 30,000 tons) has been released. The project is located in Kaiyang County, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, with an estimated total investment of 881.67 million yuan, including an environmental protection investment of 40 million yuan. The planned construction period is 18 months. The project will establish a 30,000-ton-per-year battery-grade lithium carbonate production line, with an annual by-product of 84,960 tons of anhydrous sodium sulfate.