SMM December 18 News:
Key Points: Chengxin Lithium established a new subsidiary to bet on sulfide and oxide solid-state electrolytes and composite separators, with production expected to commence in mid-2026. Its core advantage lies in leveraging its own lithium hydroxide, lithium metal, and sulfur resources to build a cost-closed loop, while utilizing existing customer channels to accelerate verification, aiming to quickly enter the solid-state battery materials track dominated by companies like Ganfeng.
An increasing number of enterprises in the lithium battery industry are joining the solid-state battery camp to more rapidly tap into the future ESS market. The following article examines the solid-state battery materials layout of top-tier lithium chemicals enterprise Chengxin Lithium.
On December 10, 2025, "Suining Chengxin Lithium Solid-State Battery Materials Technology Co., Ltd.", under Chengxin Lithium (002240), was registered and established in the Anju Economic Development Zone, Suining City, Sichuan Province, with a registered capital of 20 million yuan and legal representative Yao Kailin (Vice President of Chengxin Central Research Institute). Its business scope covers the research, development, and sales of sulfide solid-state electrolytes, oxide electrolyte powder, electrolyte membranes, and positive/negative electrode materials.
The company is 100% owned by Chengxin Lithium (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly listed firm Chengxin Lithium.
The registered capital of 20 million yuan is "subscribed", with the first paid-in capital of 6 million yuan already in place, primarily used for laboratory renovation and equipment reservations for a small pilot line.
Chengxin Lithium's solid-state battery materials layout is a key step in its extension from a lithium chemicals supplier to a provider of key materials solutions for next-generation batteries. The company registered and established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Suining, Sichuan in December 2025, with a registered capital of 20 million yuan. 6 million yuan has been paid in for laboratory and pilot line construction. The technical roadmap focuses on sulfides (Li₂S-P₂S₅ system, with room temperature conductivity reaching 15mS/cm), while simultaneously developing oxide powder (LLZO) and composite separators.
The capacity plan is clear, aiming for rapid market positioning: The company plans to achieve Phase I production in June 2026, forming an annual capacity of 50 mt of sulfide electrolyte, 200 mt of oxide powder, and 300,000 m² of composite membrane; it also plans to expand sulfide capacity to 300 mt/year by the end of 2027 to match the demand for 1 GWh-level all-solid-state batteries.
"Lithium-Sulfur" Resource Closed Loop
Raw material security and cost reduction: The Suining base's 30 kt battery-grade lithium hydroxide capacity (commenced production in 2024) can provide a high-purity lithium source, with a transport radius of less than 50 km; simultaneously, the controlled sulfur refining unit can co-produce high-purity sulfur for sulfide synthesis. Estimates indicate this closed loop can reduce raw material costs by approximately 8%.
Lithium metal capacity support: The company has completed construction of a 500 mt lithium metal capacity (planned total 3,000 mt). Its ultra-thin lithium strip products can provide a material basis for future solid-state battery anodes (e.g., lithium metal anodes).
Customer channel synergy: The first batch of products (such as composite separators for sampling in Q1 2026) will be directly targeted at the solid-state battery project departments of existing customers CATL, REPT, and Ganfeng, which is expected to shorten the certification cycle and accelerate adoption.
The challenge lies in catching up with industry progress: Currently, Ganfeng LiEnergy has achieved mass production of 300 mt of sulfide electrolyte, and production lines of competitors like Langgu Technology are also under construction. Chengxin Lithium needs to rapidly complete customer verification after production commences in 2026 to solidify its competitive position in the "second tier" of the solid-state battery materials field.
According to SMM forecasts, all-solid-state battery shipments will reach 13.5 GWh by 2028, while semi-solid-state battery shipments will reach 160 GWh. Global lithium-ion battery demand is projected to reach approximately 2,800 GWh by 2030, with the EV sector's lithium-ion battery demand showing a CAGR of around 11% from 2024 to 2030, ESS lithium-ion battery demand at a CAGR of about 27%, and consumer electronics lithium battery demand at a CAGR of roughly 10%. Global solid-state battery penetration is estimated at about 0.1% in 2025, with all-solid-state battery penetration expected to reach around 4% by 2030, and global solid-state battery penetration potentially approaching 10% by 2035.
**Note:** For further details or inquiries regarding solid-state battery development, please contact:
Phone: 021-20707860 (or WeChat: 13585549799)
Contact: Chaoxing Yang. Thank you!
