SMM H1 2026 ESS Cell Shipment Rankings: Stable Top‑tier Landscape Vs Cut‑throat Competition among Second‑tier Players

SMM has officially unveiled its rankings for energy storage cell shipments in the first half of 2026, encompassing three key dimensions: total shipments, utility-scale and commercial & industrial (C&I) storage, and residential energy storage.

In comparison with the annual rankings for 2025, the top-tier landscape for total shipments remains relatively stable; however, competition within the second echelon has intensified considerably. Emerging cell manufacturers, leveraging strategic partnerships with leading system integrators, have recorded substantial increases in shipment volumes. Technological iteration and global footprint expansion have emerged as the pivotal variables shaping the evolving competitive landscape.

Global shipments of energy storage cells for the first half of 2026 reached approximately 486 GWh, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 93%, with overseas markets serving as the primary growth engine.

In Europe, individual project scales have escalated to the GWh level, accompanied by markedly shortened delivery lead times. India's mandatory grid-connection policies have propelled the concentrated delivery of large-scale projects, while the Middle Eastern market has demonstrated a swift recovery following geopolitical disturbances. The Nordic frequency regulation market, coupled with rising demand from offshore wind power, has further accelerated growth momentum. In the residential storage segment, Europe and Australia remain high-value markets, while essential demand in Asia and Africa continues to expand steadily.

The Chinese domestic market is characterized by a phased divergence between surging bid-winning volumes and delayed grid-connection. In the first half of the year, bid-winning volumes from tenders surged by 110% year-on-year, whereas grid-connected volumes declined by 35%. This gap is expected to narrow significantly in the second half of the year.

Looking ahead, domestic cell manufacturers are projected to sustain sequential month-over-month growth in production and shipments during the latter half of 2026, driven by the implementation timelines of export tax rebate policies and domestic capacity subsidy policies. Concurrently, production capacity at Chinese-funded enterprises' manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia is slated for progressive release, with overseas end-clients having already secured capacity in advance. Overseas shipments are anticipated to double in the second half of the year. Overall, the energy storage cell market is expected to maintain a high-growth trajectory throughout the remainder of the year.

2026H1 Energy Storage Cell Shipment Ranking - Total 

 2026H1 Energy Storage Cell Shipment Ranking - Utility & C&I 

2026H1 Energy Storage Cell Shipment Ranking - Residential