China's Battery Industry Posts Record Growth in October With 50% Output Surge
China's power battery sector delivered exceptional performance in October, with production, sales, domestic installations and exports all registering robust growth, underscoring the industry's continued expansion as the global electric vehicle supply chain accelerates.
Total battery output reached 170.6 GWh in October, up 12.9% month-on-month and surging 50.5% year-on-year, according to industry data. Cumulative production for the first ten months hit 1,292.5 GWh, marking a 51.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The surge reflects sustained demand across electric vehicle segments and energy storage applications, with lithium iron phosphate batteries maintaining dominance while commercial vehicle electrification emerges as a surprise growth driver. Chinese battery manufacturers are strengthening their position in the global supply chain, particularly in European markets.
Domestic installations climbed 42.1% year-on-year to 84.1 GWh in October, while battery exports jumped 33.5% to 28.2 GWh, with power battery exports specifically soaring 76.7%.
Record Production Levels
Power battery production reached an estimated 127.8 GWh in October based on sales breakdowns, representing the highest monthly output on record. The robust production growth reflects both domestic demand from China's expanding electric vehicle market and increasing export orders from international automakers.
The year-to-date cumulative production of 1,292.5 GWh demonstrates the industry's sustained momentum throughout 2025, with growth rates consistently exceeding 50% compared to last year.
LFP Batteries Dominate Installations
Lithium iron phosphate batteries continued their market dominance in October, accounting for over 80% of domestic installations with 67.5 GWh, up 43.7% year-on-year. Ternary batteries posted 16.5 GWh in installations, growing 35.8% annually.
Through October, cumulative LFP battery installations approached 470 GWh with nearly 60% year-on-year growth, while ternary batteries showed slight decline. The data reinforces the market preference for LFP technology, favored for cost advantages and safety characteristics in mass-market vehicles.
Battery-electric passenger vehicles remained the dominant application, representing 61% of installations with 42.3% annual growth. Plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 19.9%, growing 36.9% year-on-year.
Commercial Vehicle Surge
Pure electric trucks emerged as the standout performer in October, with installations surging 175.9% year-on-year, making it the brightest segment in the second half of 2025. Production schedules for commercial vehicle batteries have extended into next year, indicating sustained demand momentum.
The commercial vehicle electrification trend reflects policy support and operational cost advantages for fleet operators, opening a significant new growth channel for battery manufacturers beyond passenger vehicles.
Export Strength
Power battery exports reached 19.4 GWh in October, jumping 76.7% year-on-year and accounting for the majority of total battery exports of 28.2 GWh. The strong export performance highlights Chinese manufacturers' increasing competitiveness in global supply chains, with European markets absorbing substantial volumes.
Other battery exports showed slight decline, but the power battery segment's robust growth underscores China's pivotal role in supplying the global electric vehicle transition.
Storage Battery Growth
Total battery sales reached 166.0 GWh in October, up 13.3% month-on-month and 50.8% year-on-year. Power batteries accounted for approximately 75% at 124.3 GWh, growing 56.6% annually, while energy storage batteries posted 41.7 GWh with 35.7% growth.
For the ten-month period, power battery sales totaled 910.3 GWh, up nearly 50% year-on-year, while storage and other batteries surged over 70%. The faster growth trajectory in energy storage reflects expanding grid-scale deployment and renewable energy integration projects.
Industry observers expect production activity to moderate in November, with significant volumes shifting toward storage applications. Demand forecasts for power batteries in 2026 remain difficult to project given evolving market dynamics.