Market Overview
Global Polyethylene (PE) Battery Separator Market reached US$ 3.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 8.5 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period 2024-2031.
The growing consumer shift toward electric mobility is one of the drivers for polypropylene battery separators. As electric vehicles gain popularity, the demand for lithium-ion batteries, which often use polypropylene separators, increases. To fulfill the growing demand for battery separators, some manufacturers have expanded their production facilities.
For instance, on September 22, 2021, Polypore International, LP, and Shanghai Energy New Materials Co., Ltd. established a venture in China for dry-process membrane separators for lithium-ion batteries. The growth of sustainable energy sources, such as wind and Solar Energy, is another important factor propelling the polyethylene battery separator market. Energy storage systems that are dependable and efficient are becoming more and more important as the globe moves toward sustainable energy sources.
Asia-Pacific is among the growing regions in the global polyethylene battery separator market covering more than 1/3rd of the market. Polyethylene battery separators are growing due to new product innovations. On July 22, 2022, The new battery assembly factory, which is scheduled to start operations in early 2023, will build battery systems for Cherdchai's e-Buses and take advantage of opportunities in the expanding Asia-Pacific electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Market Scope
| Metrics | Details |
| CAGR | 11.8% |
| Size Available for Years | 2022-2031 |
| Forecast Period | 2024-2031 |
| Data Availability | Value (US$) |
| Segments Covered | Thickness, Layer, Type, Technology, Application and Region |
| Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and Acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, Porter’s Analysis, Pricing Analysis, Regulatory Analysis, Supply-Chain Analysis, and Other key Insights. |
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Market Dynamics
Rising Renewable Energy Production
Renewable energy generation growth is primarily down to growing governmental incentives, private sector investments new technological innovations, and economics of scale driving down prices. Renewable energies such as solar and wind can now compete with coal in terms of cost efficiency in many global markets.
According to data from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), installed wind power capacity as of 2023 stands at 906 GW, with 77.6 GW of wind capacity added in 2022 and China, the U.S. Brazil, Sweden, and Germany accounted for nearly 71% of the total wind installation in 2022. China alone dominated wind turbine assembly, with nearly 82 GW of annual assembly capacity.
Countries are entering into collaborative partnerships with global multilateral organizations to increase the deployment of battery storage solutions for wind energy. For example, in February 2023, 11 countries, namely, Barbados, Belize, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Togo committed to the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), to develop 5 GW of battery energy storage for solar and wind energy systems by the end of 2024.
Rising Demand for Electric Vehicles
The long-term trends of the global automotive industry have shifted in favor of the adoption of zero-emission mobility solutions. Global EV sales surpassed 10 million for the first time in 2022, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Furthermore, a slew of major automotive manufacturers have announced in recent years that they will completely phase out conventional vehicles from mid-2030 onwards.
The expansive rollout of public EV charging infrastructure, especially in developed countries of North America and Europe has also augmented the adoption of electric vehicles. Multilateral organizations are helping local governments to set up electric charging infrastructure in developing countries.
Limitations in High-Performance Applications
Despite being the default choice for various battery chemistries, polypropylene battery separators still witness some limitations in high-performance applications. One of the biggest challenges of polypropylene battery separators is the wettability of the separator material. It becomes a problem since larger-capacity batteries, such as those used for electric cars, will witness severe performance degradation. Unwetted battery material leads to underutilization of electrode capacity and an increase in electrolyte resistance.
Thermal stability of the battery separator film poses another major challenge to ensuring stable, long-term performance. Larger batteries, such as those used in energy storage applications, require the development of a new series of separators that withstand a high degree of thermal degradation.
High Manufacturing Costs
High manufacturing costs are mostly caused by the intricate process of producing polyethylene battery separators, which calls for specialized machinery and advanced technologies. High-purity polyethylene is one of the components that must be processed precisely for the separators to fulfill the exacting performance and quality requirements set by battery makers.
This involves controlling the pore size precisely and utilizing sophisticated extrusion processes to get the ideal balance between ion permeability and mechanical strength. To further increase costs, cleanroom conditions are required to prevent contamination during production. Both new competitors and established manufacturers may find it difficult to quickly expand their output due to these high manufacturing expenses.
Market Segment Analysis
The global polyethylene battery separator market is segmented based on thickness, layer, type, technology, application, and region.
Expansion of the Microporous Due to Growing Demand for High-Power Density Batteries
The microporous segment is among the growing regions in the global polyethylene battery separator market covering more than 1/3rd of the market. Microporous layers are intended to improve battery electrochemical performance by allowing for efficient ion movement while minimizing internal resistance. An important driver is the growing demand for high-power-density batteries that can perform quick charge and discharge cycles. By facilitating the efficient passage of ions within the battery, microporous layers help to achieve high power density.
People began to upgrade their homes with smart gadgets such as smart lights, smart security systems, smart locks, smart speakers, and other such devices as they began to spend more time at home. SK Innovation Co. announced a US$ 1 billion investment in two EV-focused battery separator factories in Poland in March 2021.
Microporous layer is used in consumer electronics and the growth of smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other consumer electronics is driving demand for high-performance batteries, which eventually drives the demand for battery separators. The global market for smart home devices rose 10.3% year on year in Q3 2021, in accordance to the International Data Corporation Global Quarterly Smart Home Unit Tracker, with more than 221.8 million unit shipments. As a result, the increased demand for consumer electronics boosts the polypropylene battery separators market.
Market Geographical Share
Increasing Use of the Demand of the New Energy Vehicle Industry in Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific has been a dominant force in the global polyethylene battery separator market. Companies can expand their capacity to reach new markets and bolster their position in already-existing ones. Key companies can investigate and negotiate contracts with different manufacturers, increasing their market share in the Asia-Pacific, by ensuring sufficient supply.
For instance, in 2023, Asahi Kasei, a multinational chemical manufacturer based in Japan, plans to invest in new coating equipment for Hipore lithium-ion battery separators at its factories in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., beginning in the first half of 2026. Coating separators for the batteries of up to 1.7 million new energy cars can be produced at the current capacity.
Hipore wet process lithium-ion battery (LIB) separators are available from Asahi Kasei in two varieties: an additive coating and a polyolefin-based film. The company is a major investment in its 2024 goal and a crucial component of its strategy to meet the demands of the new energy vehicle industry.
To fulfill consumer’s demand for Polypropylene Battery separators some of the major key players in the market started manufacturing plants to expand their production facilities. For instance, on September 22, 2021, Polypore International, LP, and Shanghai Energy New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. established a joint venture in China for dry-process membrane separators for lithium-ion batteries.
In 2023, According to the International Energy Agency, automotive lithium-ion battery demand increased by about 65% to 550 GWh in 2022 due to the growth in electric passenger car sales. In China, the demand for electric vehicles is growing by over 70% of the growth rate in 2022.
COVID-19 Impact Analysis
The global outbreak of COVID-19 had a slightly prolonged negative impact on the growth of the global polypropylene battery separators market. A major slump occurred in the global automotive industry, a major demand source of battery separator materials. According to data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), global automotive production fell by 16% to 77.62 million units in 2020.
The pandemic also caused a downturn in imports of specialist materials and manufacturing equipment due to restrictions on international shipping and trade. The major players had to dip into their inventories to keep up production whereas smaller local players, without strategic reserves, had to drastically cut back on battery separator material production.
Furthermore, labor shortages caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and other problems with the supply chain also contributed to disruptions in manufacturing operations. A fall in global oil prices due to demand destruction for the pandemic led to a subsequent drop in petrochemical prices. It, in turn, created downward pressure on polypropylene prices. Some manufacturers took advantage of the situation and stocked up on polypropylene at these low prices, which allowed them to reduce production costs.
The pandemic-induced disruption of global supply chains as a result of the temporary suspension of air, maritime, and land transportation, created significant short-term challenges for petrochemical exports. A drop in exports and weak commodity prices severely affected the bottom line of many petrochemical producers, especially in Asia-Pacific.
Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis
The protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine war has created major volatility in the global energy markets. Given Russia’s status as a major energy exporter, the severe economic sanctions imposed on all major sectors of the Russian economy, led to fears of supply shortfalls, thus pushing the price of precious and rare earth metals to new highs.
The war in Ukraine has created major strategic opportunities for battery separator manufacturers. With the EU and U.S. formulating policies to diversify their energy mix and sever dependence on Russian energy imports. EU countries are going all-in towards carbon-free, renewable energy, therefore, demand for energy storage solutions and automotive batteries is likely to increase exponentially over the medium and long term.
Key Developments
- On October 31, 2023, Asahi Kasei invested in new equipment to coat Hipore lithium-ion battery (LIB) separators. New coating lines will be erected at Asahi Kasei LIB separator plants in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, with operations set to begin in the first part of fiscal year 2026.
- On October 27, 2021, Toray Industries, Inc. announced a joint venture agreement with LG Chem, Ltd. In this collaboration, LG Chem will make a significant investment of US$ 375 million in Toray Industries Hungary Kft. (THU), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toray dedicated to the production and sales of battery separator film. Subsequently, a new entity named LG Toray Hungary Battery Separator Kft. (LTHS) will be established, with Toray and LG Chem both holding a 50% stake in the venture.
- On September 12, 2023, KORE Power, Inc. will incorporate ENTEK lithium separators from Terra Haute, Indiana, into its Arizona KOREPlex battery cells. The agreement involves KORE purchasing separators for NMC and LFP battery cells from ENTEK, starting when the Indiana facility begins operations in 2025. ENTEK is set to supply separators for KOREPlex's initial 7 GWh capacity, with provisions for a potential second phase that could more than double the supply.
Market Key Players
The major global players in the market include Asahi Kasei, Toray Industry, Xiamen Tob New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Anhui Jinxi New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Entek International, Ube Industries, W-Scope Industries, Sumitomo Chemical, Cambridge Energy Solutions Ltd. and AOT Battery Technology Co., LTD.
Why Purchase the Report?
- To visualize the global polyethylene battery separator market segmentation based on thickness, layer, type, technology, application, and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
- Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
- Excel data sheet with numerous data points of polyethylene battery separator market-level with all segments.
- PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
- Product mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.
The global polyethylene battery separator market report would provide approximately 78 tables, 74 figures, and 216 Pages.
Target Audience 2024
- Manufacturers/ Buyers
- Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
- Research Professionals
- Emerging Companies
