With the global shift to EV = electric vehicles accelerating against the backdrop of tightening environmental regulations, major chemical manufacturers are embarking on mass production of materials for lithium-ion batteries installed in EVs and expansion of production facilities one after another. , There is an active movement against the rising Chinese and Korean forces in this field.
Of these, Mitsubishi Chemical will make a capital investment of several billion yen to expand the production facilities for "electrolyte", which is a material for lithium-ion batteries, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
Demand for lithium-ion batteries for automobiles and their materials is increasing as domestic and overseas automobile manufacturers accelerate the "EV shift" against the backdrop of tightening environmental regulations.
However, Chinese and Korean manufacturers also have a high share in this field, and competition for prices is intensifying.
Next year, Mitsubishi Chemical hopes to increase its production capacity in 2023 to about 1.5 times its current level and increase its cost competitiveness by expanding its scale.
Among major chemical manufacturers, Sumitomo Chemical and Asahi Kasei are also embarking on mass production of "positive electrode materials" and "insulating materials," which are the main materials for lithium-ion batteries, and strengthening production facilities, and there are active movements to compete with Chinese and Korean forces. It has become.