Profitability and cost structure in the Battery Cell Industry

The battery market currently faces significant challenges for market participants. European and American EV sales stagnated during 2023 and 2024 (IEA, 2025). At the same time, dramatic overcapacities of Chinese companies increase pressure on prices and margins. Ultimately, several battery cell manufacturing companies face economic difficulties. Nevertheless, a few remain in a stronger economic position than the majority. This analysis compares Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited’s (CATL) business performance based on publicly available data from the early 2023 through the first half of 2025 with three major competitors in the battery cell market China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB), LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Samsung SDI (SDI). Besides location-based differences, CATL’s efforts to establish own supply chains and potential economic benefits were also considered.