Mainland China has an estimated 2,060 battery manufacturers. The number is forecast to reach 2,120 in 2006 and 2,200 in 2007. Most mainland China battery makers are situated in Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Shenyang, Fujian and Harbin. Three hundred are exporters.

About 90 percent of the surveyed companies in this report are privately owned, while the rest are state-owned enterprises. Thirty percent of the private companies are either joint-ventures or foreign owned.

The production capacity utilization rate of the majority of the companies averages 70 percent.

Alkaline batteries
Mainland China has become the world's largest supplier of alkaline batteries. In 2004, its output for primary cells reached 22 billion units, according to the China Industrial Association of Power Sources. Exports rose 6 percent year-on-year to 19.1 billion units, valued at US$856 million.

Production growth for alkaline batteries across mainland China is forecast to increase 10 percent in 2005.

R&D in the alkaline battery segment focuses on models that operate at high temperature and with longer life cycle. Although considered a mature product compared to other battery types, alkaline batteries maintain their market hold primarily in the electronic toy and portable consumer electronics sectors.

NiMH batteries
About 42 percent of the makers included in this report manufacture NiMH batteries. In 2004, output for NiMH batteries in mainland China reached 800 million units, which account for 40 percent of the world's overall supply. Shipment volume reached 675 million units valued at US$442 million.

A 30 percent growth is predicted in the NiMH battery segment. In 2005, some 60 start-up companies have announced plans to include NiMH rechargeable batteries in their product lines.

Next-generation products in the NiMH battery segment feature high current discharge, low internal resistance, high-energy density and long life cycles. These batteries are for use in systems deployed at extreme environment conditions.

NiCd batteries
Output for NiCd batteries reached 1 billion units in 2004, accounting for 50 percent of the world's supply. Exports were 826 million units worth US$411 million. About 32 percent of the companies included in this report are NiCd makers.

Get the complete version of this report.

All information contained in China Sourcing Reports is the result of exclusive, ground-level and definitive research conducted by Global Sources' analysts. Companies featured in these reports may or may not be clients of Global Sources.