According to the latest analysis by South Korean market research firm SNE Research, global EV battery cell demand reached 608.5 GWh in the first half of 2026, up 20 per cent year on year. However, growth slowed compared to the full year 2025, when demand increased by 31.7 per cent. The analysis covers battery cells used in battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids.
CATL remained the market leader, with battery cell deliveries totalling 242.7 GWh in the first half of the year. The Chinese manufacturer increased deliveries by 25.3 per cent year on year, lifting its global market share from 38.2 to 39.9 per cent.
BYD remained in second place with battery cell deliveries of 87.7 GWh. However, its deliveries grew by just 1.6 per cent year on year, leaving it with a global market share of 14.4 per cent. Together, CATL and BYD accounted for 54.3 per cent of the global market for batteries used in electric and hybrid vehicles.
LG Energy Solution was the highest-ranked South Korean battery maker in third place. The company delivered 52.6 GWh in the first half of 2026, up 8.4 per cent year on year. However, its global market share fell from 9.6 to 8.6 per cent.
The top 10 battery suppliers for electric and hybrid vehicles in the first half of 2026 comprised seven Chinese manufacturers – CATL, BYD, CALB, Gotion, EVE, SVOLT and Sunwoda – alongside South Korea’s LG Energy Solution and SK On, and Japan’s Panasonic.
