SHANGHAI, Feb 3 (SMM) - With the lithium and nickel prices hovering at high levels, sodium batteries and lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP) batteries with cost advantages have come under the spotlight.

According to SMM survey, manganese sulphate is primarily the source of manganese in the precursor of sodium batteries at present, while tricobalt tetraoxide (Mn3O4) is mostly regarded the source of manganese in the cathode materials for LMFP batteries.

It is expected that in the third and fourth quarters of 2023, the capacity of sodium battery cathode materials will accelerate in commissioning. However, it should be noted that the application of sodium batteries are limited, mainly including two-wheeled vehicles, low-speed passenger vehicles, and energy storage. Therefore, the capacity release of sodium batteries will fall short of the ternary batteries, and the supply deficit of manganese sulphate will be unlikely.