Cui Dongshu: From January to April 2026, the overall lithium battery industry will present a pattern of "high total growth and dramatic structural changes".

Cui Dongshu wrote that from January to April 2026, the overall lithium battery industry presents a pattern of "high total volume growth and dramatic structural changes", with total demand reaching 671.20 million kWh, a significant increase of 51% compared to the same period last year. The industry's growth momentum has shifted from being solely driven by traditional new energy vehicles to being driven by both energy storage and exports: the total demand related to new energy vehicles reached 494.30 million kWh, a year-on-year increase of 41%, with growth slowing compared to previous years; while energy storage and other demands accumulated 176.90 million kWh, a significant increase of 90%, becoming the core engine driving industry growth, with a monthly growth rate in April reaching as high as 196%. In terms of proportion, the demand for new energy vehicles decreased from 83% in 2025 to 74%, while the demand for energy storage increased from 17% to 26%, indicating a fundamental shift in the industry's growth logic.