<2025> Precursor for Cathode Technology Trend and Market Outlook (~2032)
As transportation begins to
transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, issues
surrounding the supply and demand of various types of lithium-ion secondary
batteries, materials, and raw materials are becoming increasingly significant. This
paradigm shift in the industry is driving a surge in demand for lithium-ion
batteries, making the stable supply of key materials—such as cathodes, anodes,
electrolytes, and separators—a critical issue directly linked to the survival
of companies.
The Korean domestic battery
industry has relatively quickly achieved localization and vertical integration
of cathode materials. However, in the precursor sector, which serves as the
foundation for this, the country's self-sufficiency rate remains very low. The
main reason for this is that cost competitiveness plays a more significant role
than technological capability. Currently, approximately 90% of the NCM
precursor imports in South Korea come from China. From a long-term perspective,
precursors involve complex manufacturing processes and are subject to high
entry barriers due to the price volatility of raw materials such as lithium,
nickel, and cobalt, as well as environmental regulations and wastewater
treatment requirements. Therefore, investment in production capacity and
technological development for localization is essential. For this reason, major
battery material companies are increasingly focusing on establishing their own
mass production systems for precursors. Since the Trump administration took
office late last year, trade pressure on China has intensified. As a result,
major cathode and precursor companies are striving to reduce dependence on
China for cathode precursors in the North American market and globally by
seeking alternative supply sources.
Currently, Chinese precursor
companies dominate the global market share for both NCM/NCA and LFP (lithium
iron phosphate) precursors. In South Korea, only a few companies are engaged in
development and manufacturing, making it challenging to meet the growing demand
for cathode active materials. To prevent a situation where the supply of raw
materials becomes difficult as the demand for cathode materials increases,
domestic battery companies and cathode material manufacturers have been working
to secure the necessary precursor supply by establishing joint ventures with
Chinese precursor companies through equity investments. However, recently,
subsidies for batteries produced in the North American region have been
restricted depending on the use of Chinese raw materials. As a result, battery
and cathode material companies have begun the process of restructuring their
raw material supply chains. In addition, similar regulatory environments are
being established in regions such as Canada and Europe, further accelerating
the trend of reducing dependence on China. Currently, the Big 5 precursor
companies in China are Zoomwe, GEM, Huayou Cobalt, Brunp, and Ronbay. These
companies are analyzing the future demand for cathode active materials and
proceeding with large-scale investments and advanced technological development.
This report includes detailed
information on precursors, the raw material for cathode active materials. It
covers various topics, including the methods of precursor manufacturing,
technologies for each process, raw material supply, market analysis, and the
status of precursor companies. In addition, the updated report divides the
precursor market into ternary precursors, LFP precursors, and LCO precursors,
and includes data on total precursor demand and the shipment volumes of
approximately 70 companies. Additionally, the report includes the size and
outlook of the global precursor market. The report also covers the latest
trends and technological developments in overall precursor manufacturing
technology, as well as changes and trends in precursor manufacturing equipment.
Key Points
①
The report provides a comprehensive overview
of precursors along with detailed technical content.
②
The report includes key considerations for
design and synthesis, which are essential points in the precursor manufacturing
process.
③
The report includes information on precursor
raw materials and cathode materials. The report makes it easier to understand
the overall material supply chain management (SCM).
④
Based on SNE Research's projections and
companies' expansion plans, the report provides objective and analytical
figures regarding the precursor market outlook.
⑤
The report includes detailed information on
the development status and product status of major global ternary, LFP, and LCO
precursor companies.
This
report includes comprehensive information on the principles and technologies of
precursor manufacturing, precursor performance and equipment, market, raw
material sourcing, company-specific SCM and revenue status, production plans of
the Global Top 4, and details on approximately 70 major global precursor
companies. The table of contents is as follows:
1. Definition
and Types of Precursor
1.1 What Is Precursor?
1.2 Basics of Precursor
1.3 Types of Precursor
1.3.1 Co-based (LCO)
1.3.2 Ni-based (NCM, NCA, NCMA)
1.3.3 Olivine-based (LFP)
1.4 Latest Issues in
Precursor
1.4.1 Development of Mid-Ni
Precursor
1.4.2 Centralized Precursor
Manufacturing Process
1.4.3 Oxide Precursor
1.4.4 Development of Ternary
Precursor-Free Technology
2. Precursor
Manufacturing Process
2.1 LCO Precursor
Manufacturing
2.2 NCM(Ni Multicomponent,
Ternary) Precursor Manufacturing
NCM(Ni Multicomponent, Ternary) Precursor
Manufacturing Flow
2.3 NCM(Ni Multicomponent,
Ternary) Precursor Manufacturing Principles
Nucleation and Growth Principles,
Key Factors in Precursor Manufacturing Process Development, Co-precipitation
Mechanism, Principles of Impurity Removal, Precipitation, and Co-precipitation
2.4 LFP Precursor
Manufacturing
LFP/LMFP Manufacturing Flow (Co-precipitation),
LFP/LMFP Manufacturing Flow (Solid Phase Method), LFP/LMFP Manufacturing Flow (Liquid
Phase Method)
2.5 Latest Trend in
Precursor Manufacturing Technology
Anhydrous Precursor Manufacturing,
LiH2PO4 utilization
3. Precursor
Performance and Facilities
3.1 Ni Ternary Precursor
Basic Manufacturing Process
3.2 Ni Ternary Precursor Manufacturing
Facilities
3.3 Ni Ternary Precursor Key
Technological Factors
3.4 Precursor Raw Material
Manufacturing Technology
3.5 Precursor Doping and Coating
Technology
3.6 Precursor Average Grain Size(D50) and Particle Size Composition/Particle Size/1st Particle Formation/Tap Density/Impurity
3.7 Precursor Reliability
Assessment
3.8 Precursor Analysis
Equipment
3.9 Precursor Major Control
Items
3.10 Ni Ternary Precursor Reactor
3.11 Latest Trend in Precursor
Manufacturing Technology
MSO4, Waste Water
Issue and Treatment Status
4. Precursor
Raw Material Information
4.1 Nickel Sulfate
Nickel Location and Mining
Companies List, Ni Deposit and Production by Country, Ni Production and
Follow-up Value Chain,
Nickel Sulfate Manufacturers, Ni Supply/Demand
Strategies by Manufacturer, Korea Domestic Value chain
4.2 Cobalt Sulfate
Cobalt Deposit and Production, Co
Production and Application, Global Cobalt Value Chain, Co Distribution and
Mining Companies List,
Korea Domestic Import/Export and
Sales Status, Value Chain Details by Player
4.3 Manganese Sulfate
Mn Distribution and Deposit, Mn Production
and Producers
4.4 Black Mass
Distribution, Regional Characteristics,
New Facility Investment Trend
5. LIB,
Cathode and Precursor Demand Outlook (‘21~’32)
5.1 LIB Demand Outlook (‘21~’32)
Usage vs. Shipment vs. Production
Outlook
LIB Installation Outlook by
Application, LIB Shipment Outlook by Application, LIB Production Outlook by
Application
5.2 CAM Demand Outlook (‘21~’32)
Cathode Demand Outlook by
Chemistry _ Weight
Cathode Demand Outlook by
Chemistry _ Share
Cathode Outlook by Application
EV Cell Cathode Demand Outlook by
Chemistry _ Weight
EV Cell Cathode Demand Outlook by
Chemistry _ Share
ESS Cell Cathode Demand Outlook
by Chemistry _ Weight
ESS Cell Cathode Demand Outlook
by Chemistry _ Share
Small Size IT/Non-IT Cell Cathode
Demand Outlook by Chemistry
Ternary Cathode Demand Outlook by
Maker
LFP Cathode Demand Outlook by Maker
LCO Cathode Demand Outlook by Maker
5.3 Precursor pCAM Demand
Outlook (’21~’32)
Precursor for Cathode Principles
and Current Status
Precursor Demand Outlook by Chemistry_
Weight
Precursor Demand Outlook by Chemistry
_ Share
Precursor Demand Demand Outlook by
Application
EV Precursor p-CAM Demand Outlook
by Chemistry _ Weight
EV Precursor p-CAM Demand Outlook
by Chemistry_ Share
ESS Cell Precursor p-CAM Demand
Outlook by Chemistry _ Weight
ESS Cell Precursor p-CAM Demand
Outlook by Chemistry _ Share
Small Size Cell Precursor p-CAM Demand
Outlook by Chemistry_ Weight
Small Size Cell Precursor p-CAM Demand
Outlook by Chemistry _ Share
Ternary Precursor p-CAM Demand,
High Ni vs. Low Ni
6. Precursor
for Cathode p-CAM Supply Outlook (’21~’32)
6.1 Precursor p-CAM Supply M/S
and Outlook (’21~’32)
Precursor Overall Supply Status and
Outlook
Ternary Precursor Suppliers M/S and
Outlook
Ternary Precursor Global Top 4
Suppliers Comparison and Analysis
LFP Precursor Suppliers M/S and
Outlook
LFP Precursor Major Suppliers
Comparison
LCO Precursor Suppliers M/S and
Outlook
LCO Precursor Major Suppliers
Comparison
6.2 Precursor Supply Chain
Ternary Precursor Supply Chain
LFP Precursor Supply Chain
LCO Precursor Supply Chain
6.3 Precursor p-CAM
Production Capacity
Ternary Precursor Capa. Expansion
Outlook
LFP Precursor Capa. Expansion
Outlook
LCO Precursor Capa. Expansion
Outlook
6.4 Precursor p-CAM
Demand-Supply(D-S) Outlook (’21~’32)
Ternary Precursor D-S Outlook
LFP Precursor D-S Outlook
LCO Precursor D-S Outlook
6.5 Precursor p-CAM Market
Outlook (’21~’32)
Ternary and LCO Precursor p–CAM Raw material
LFP Precursor Raw material
Precursor p-CAM Price Outlook
Precursor p-CAM Market Size
Outlook
7. Precursor
SCM by Type
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (LCO)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCM
111)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCM
523)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCM
622)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCM
811)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCA)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (NCMA)
Precursor SCM Structure by Type (LFP)
8. Ternary
Precursor (NCM, NCA, NCMA) Companies
8.1 CNGR中伟 Zoomwe
8.2 GEM 格林美
8.3 Brunp 邦普 (CATL)
8.4 Huayou Cobalt 华友钴业
8.5 Ecopro Materials
8.6 POSCO future M
8.7 LG Chem
8.8 Umicore
8.9 Sumitomo MM
8.10 Tanaka Chem
8.11 BASF-Toda
8.12 Lanzhou Jintong兰州金通 (金川)
8.13 Jiana 佳纳 (Dowstone 道氏技术)
8.14 MCC Ramu 中冶瑞木
8.15 Ronbay 容百
8.16 Fangyuan 芳源
8.17 Zhejiang Power 帕瓦
8.18 Kelong 科隆
8.19 Jinchi 金驰 (Minmetal 五矿)
8.20 L&F, L&F-LS
8.21 Eco & Dream
8.22 Cosmo AM & T
8.23 Tianli Lineng 天力锂能
8.24 LIBODE 宜宾锂宝
8.25 Zhejiang Hitrans 浙江海创
8.26 Shunying Material 四川顺应
8.27 SDIG 四川新锂想
9. LFP
Precursor Companies
9.1 Hunan Yuneng 湖南裕能
9.2 Hubei Wanrun 湖北万润
9.3 LOPAL 龙蟠科技(常州锂源)
9.4 Rongtong Hi-Tech 湖北融通
9.5 Anda 贵州安达科技
9.6 Hezong 合纵科技(湖南雅城)
9.7 Tinci 天赐高新材料
9.8 TSAKER 彩客新能源
9.9 LB Group 龙佰集团
9.10 Annada 安纳达, 铜陵纳源(Tongling Nayuan)
9.11 CNGR 中伟
9.12 Brunp 邦普循环
9.13 Chanhen 贵州川恒
9.14 Yonfer 新洋丰
9.15 Chengdu Wintrue 成都云图
9.16 Yuntianhua Group 云天化集团
9.17 Hunan Hongyue 湖南鸿跃新能源
9.18 GHTech 广东光华科技
9.19 Guizhou Phosphate Chem.贵州磷化(集团)
9.20 SDLomon 川发龙蟒
9.21 Yunxiang Juneng 湖北云翔
9.22 CNSG Hong Sifang 中盐安徽红四方
9.23 Jiangsu Henry 江苏亨利
10. LCO
Precursor Companies
10.1 CNGR 中伟
10.2 GEM 格林美
10.3 Huayou 华友钴业
10.4 XTC 厦钨新能
10.5 Jinchuan Jintong 金川金通
10.6 Hunan Yacheng 湖南雅城
10.7 ST ChengTun Mining 盛屯矿业集团
10.8 Hanrui Cobalt 寒锐钴业
10.9 Zhangjiagang Huayi Chem. 张家港华义化工
10.10 CoreMax 康普材料
10.11 Xinwei Nickel and Cobalt 南通新玮镍钴
10.12 Ruiyuan Power 大连瑞源
10.13 Kelixin(Zhuhai) New Energy 科立鑫(珠海)新能源
10.14 Umicore (Bel)