Revolutionizing Battery Separators, Connecting the Global Industry: SEMCORP Attends the 14th Battery and Separator Industry Development Summit Forum

Recently, the 14th Battery and Film Industry Development Summit Forum was successfully held in Changsha. At the invitation of the organizers, Jiao Lingkuan, Vice President of the Research Institute at SEMCORP, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech titled "Leading the 'Revolution' in Separators, Connecting the World – Development and Internationalization Trends of China's Lithium Battery Separator Industry." From three dimensions: "China's Depth," "Global Breadth," and "SEMCORP's Practices", He provided an in-depth interpretation of the development path and future trends of China's lithium battery separator industry.

Jiao Lingkuan, Vice President of SEMCORP's Research Institute, delivering a keynote speech.

China's Depth: Industry Leap from Scale Leadership to Technological Leadership 

Since the successful R&D and market launch of China's dry-process biaxially stretched separator in 2004, China's separator industry has achieved a leap from "scale leadership" to "technological leadership." In 2014, with the rapid development of the national new energy vehicle industry, the separator industry experienced its first "Golden Decade" of rapid growth, characterized by a dynamic landscape of multiple players. Although over-competition has troubled separator enterprises in recent years, with the introduction of national policies addressing over-competition and the roll-out of energy storage market plans, we are confident that the separator industry will usher in another "Golden Decade" from 2025 to 2035.

Data shows that China's separators account for approximately 80% of the global market, with shipments reaching 22.7 billion square meters in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 28.6%, making China the core force in global separator supply. Wet-process separators, with their advantages in energy density and safety, have become the mainstream choice for high-end power batteries.

Separators not only act as "guardians" of battery safety but also as "boosters" of energy density and "extenders" of battery life. With continuous technological breakthroughs, Chinese separator enterprises are steadily driving comprehensive improvements in battery performance.

Global Breadth: The Journey from Product Export to Global Layout 

Chinese lithium battery enterprises are accelerating their "going global" efforts. As of October 2025, Chinese lithium battery enterprises have planned 74 factories overseas, with a total capacity of 1.2 TWh. Europe accounts for over 50% of this capacity, making it a key strategic stronghold in the global deployment.

As a critical segment of the industrial chain, the separator industry's overseas expansion model is evolving from "product export" to "localized production." Vice president Jiao pointed out that separator globalization is not only a commercial action but also a comprehensive test of supply chain resilience, technical standard alignment, and green compliance capabilities.

"Separator globalization should not remain at the cognition of Chinese companies going global. For the host countries, overseas enterprises should adopt the mindset of 'coming in' and actively integrate into local development," he emphasized in his speech.

SEMCORP's Practices: Driving the Future with Technological Innovation and Global Layout 

As a leading enterprise in the global lithium battery separator industry, SEMCORP has always regarded technological innovation as its core driving force, continuously promoting product iteration and process upgrades. To meet industry demands for safety and fast charging, the company launched innovative products such as high-puncture-resistant base films, high-wettability base films, and flame-retardant separators in 2025, which have received positive market feedback.

In terms of global layout, the company has established R&D and production bases in the United States, Hungary, and multiple locations in China, building a supply chain network that covers the globe.

Vice President Jiao Lingkuan stated, "We aim not only to excel in 'Made in China' but also to achieve 'Global Manufacturing.' By strengthening our patent foundation, localizing R&D, production, and service systems, we will provide global customers with safer, more efficient, and more reliable separator solutions."

Looking ahead, SEMCORP will continue to deepen its dual-engine strategy of "technology + production capacity," joining hands with industry chain partners to promote global energy transition and sustainable development.