From Jan to May 2026, Global EV Battery Separator Installment 7,489Mil ㎡, a 20.7% YoY Growth
- Chinese separator makers accounted for 89.7% M/S; China Maintains Dominance in Global Supply Structure
(Source: 2026 June Global EV & Battery Monthly Tracker (Incl. LiB 4 Major Materials), SNE Research)
From January to May 2026, the installation volume of battery separators for electric vehicles (EV, PHEV, HEV) registered in countries worldwide reached approximately 7,489 Mil ㎡, marking a 20.7% increase year-on-year. During the same period, separator installation in the global market excluding China stood at approximately 2,605 Mil ㎡, growing by 38.7% compared to the previous year and significantly outperforming the overall market growth rate.
The separator is a core material within lithium-ion batteries that physically isolates the anode and cathode to prevent short circuits while allowing the transfer of lithium ions. As a component that directly impacts battery safety, power output performance, and lifespan, demand for separators has been steadily rising in lockstep with the expansion of the EV market, increasing battery capacity per vehicle, and the broadening adoption of high-energy-density cells.
From January to May 2026, the global separator market witnessed divergent trends among major suppliers. SEMCORP recorded approximately 2,205Mil ㎡, growing 15% year-on-year to maintain its top position in the market, while Senior(+19%) and Sinoma(+15%) also sustained steady upward trends. Notable, certain manufacturers such as Gellec(+72%), Lanketu(+75%), and Putailai(+48%) posted high growth rates, signaling a push to expand their market shares. On the other hand, ZIMT(ZTE Holdings, +2%) remained flat compared to the previous year, and SK IE Technology(-13%) experienced a decline, affected by slowing demand among non-Chinese suppliers.
Looking at market share by corporate nationality, Chinese companies accounted for 89.7% of the market as of the first quarter of 2026, capturing the vast majority of the global separator industry. Japanese firms held a 6.6% share, followed by South Korean peers at 3.7%. The market share of Chinese suppliers rose by 3.1 percentage points from 86.6% in Q1 2025. During the same period, the share of Japanese companies fell from 8.3% to 6.6%, and South Korean firms dipped from 5.1% to 3.7%. This demonstrates that while the supply dominance of Chinese players is intensifying in the global separator market, the relative standing of Japanese and South Korean manufacturers is experiencing a contraction.
(Source: 2026 June Global EV & Battery Monthly Tracker (Incl. LiB 4 Major Materials), SNE Research)
During the first five months of 2026, the global electric vehicle (EV) separator market sustained its upward trajectory, with its growth engines divided into the expanding supply of Chinese players and the demand recovery across non-Chinese markets. In China, expanding battery cell production and an LFP-centric product mix underpinned separator demand. Meanwhile, outside of China, the recovery of EV sales in Europe and emerging markets, along with new model rollouts by major OEMs and an increase in battery capacity per vehicle, translated into an uptick in separator deployment. However, production line pacing adjustments by automakers in North America and select European regions acted as a factor capping the short-term growth potential of non-Chinese separator manufacturers.
Recently, the battleground for product competitiveness in the separator market has become highly segmented. This shift is driven not only by rising EV battery volumes but also by the expansion of Energy Storage Systems (ESS), surging power demand from data centers, and rigorous safety mandates for high-speed charging and high-energy-density cells. While Chinese players preserve a supply upper hand in commodity separators leveraged by large-scale capacity expansions and cost competitiveness, South Korean and Japanese suppliers have entered a phase where differentiation is imperative. This required differentiation centers on high-value-added products, such as ceramic-coated, high-heat-resistant, and ultra-thin separators, alongside swift adaptation to localized supply chains in North America and Europe. Moving forward, the definitive factors dictating long-term separator manufacturer competitiveness will pivot on client diversification, ESS product adaptability, the establishment of localized manufacturing hubs, and the mitigation of reliance on China, rather than simple delivery volume scale-ups.