Battery market is growing rapidly: battery sales more than doubled over the year in China

China's battery and energy storage systems market demonstrated record growth rates at the end of September 2026. According to official data from the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, the total installed capacity of traction batteries in electric vehicles reached an impressive 87.2 GWh. This figure shows a steady increase of 14.7% year-on-year, emphasizing the unflagging domestic demand for electric transport.

Production Capacities and Output Scale

The scale of battery production in China continues to expand at a rapid pace. For September of this year, the total volume of battery production intended for vehicles and stationary energy storage systems amounted to 237.8 GWh. Compared to the same period last year, this figure jumped by 57.3%. Looking at the broader period from January to September 2026, the total volume of manufactured products reached a colossal 1,833.1 GWh, recording an increase of 63.4%.

Sales Structure and Energy Storage Segment

An analysis of the product sales structure shows a noticeable shift toward diversification. In September, total sales of batteries and energy storage devices reached 222.7 GWh. Of this volume, traditional traction batteries accounted for 149.2 GWh (67% of the market), while energy storage batteries occupied 33% at 73.5 GWh. Notably, the energy storage systems segment demonstrated explosive sales growth of 104.4% year-on-year, while traction batteries added 35%.

Export Potential and International Supplies

The international expansion of Chinese battery technology manufacturers is also gaining momentum. In September 2026, exports of batteries and energy storage systems amounted to 44 GWh, which is 64.5% higher than last year's figures. Global markets received 28.4 GWh of traction batteries and 15.6 GWh of energy storage devices. Over nine months, total exports grew by 51.6% to reach 302.9 GWh, confirming China's global leadership in green energy.

Contradictory Data

Despite the general trend of rapid growth in key indicators, experts note certain methodological discrepancies in estimates of growth rates across individual segments. While official alliance reports record a twofold increase in sales in certain categories of energy storage devices thanks to large-scale government investments and the transition to renewable sources, a number of independent analytical agencies point to potential risks of overproduction and logistical constraints that could adjust future export and domestic consumption forecasts toward a slowdown.