Battery firms emphasize preparedness for US, China threats

InterBattery 2025 kicks off amid lingering EV glut

By Park Jae-hyuk

People speaking Chinese were busy wandering around an exhibition hall of COEX in Seoul on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day InterBattery 2025 trade show, which attracted 688 battery firms worldwide to showcase their latest technologies.

The visitors paid attention to the products displayed at the booths of Chinese companies, which joined Korea's largest battery show in an apparent bid to expand their presence in the Korean market amid escalating global trade tensions caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist policies.

Among the 79 Chinese companies participating in this year's InterBattery were BYD and EVE, both of which are debutants of the annual event. Last year, BYD and EVE were ranked second and ninth in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market share.

Although BYD only displayed its batteries for consumer electronics and motorcycles without showcasing its EV batteries, the recent expansion of Chinese firms came as a threat to InterBattery's Korean participants, which have already grappled with U.S. tariff threats and decelerating global demand for EVs.

In response, Korean exhibitors touted their advanced technologies as solutions to intensifying competition with low-priced Chinese products in the global market.

"With our leading products, such as the 46-series cells, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and cell-to-pack technology, we will gain a competitive edge over Chinese companies," said LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Dong-myung, who leads the Korea Battery Industry Association.

He dismissed concerns over Washington's trade policies, saying that his company would outstrip its rivals with its factories in the United States.

"The uncertain global political and economic situations are seen as opportunities, not risks," Kim said in his opening remarks for the event.

Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun emphasized his company's forthcoming mass production of 46-phi cylindrical batteries, as well as its collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group in the robotics sector.

"The battery industry is more vulnerable than the display industry to environmental policies and tariffs," Choi, who previously served as the Samsung Display CEO, said.

However, he anticipated the limited impact of Trump's policies on the company's Hungarian factory, which has already reduced outputs in the aftermath of the EV slowdown.

POSCO Future M introduced its ongoing development of cathode materials for lithium manganese-rich batteries, saying that in terms of price and energy density, the new type of product can surpass LFP batteries, which have been supplied mainly by Chinese firms.

When asked about competition with Chinese suppliers of low-priced anode materials, POSCO Future M CEO Eom Gi-chen told reporters that the government is considering supporting the company for a stable supply of battery materials.

SK On emphasized its ongoing efforts to mass produce prismatic batteries, as well as the joint development of immersion cooling technology for EVs with SK Enmove, the group's lubricant unit.

"Our CEO spares no expense in R&D," said Park Ki-soo, head of SK On's R&D division, who attended InterBattery on behalf of CEO Lee Seok-hee, who went on a business trip abroad.

The major Korean battery firms, however, remained skeptical about an early rebound in the global EV demand, forecasting that the so-called "chasm" will continue at least until the first half of next year.

Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who attended InterBattery after his visit to the U.S. last week, promised that the government would come up with measures to boost battery demand and will help domestic companies avoid the fallout from Trump's policies.

"I will keep communicating with my U.S. counterpart so that Korean companies can proceed with their investment projects in the U.S. without any setbacks," he said during the exhibition's opening ceremony.