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"Sales especially of lithium-ion batteries have grown
enormously," said Christian Eckert from electronic industry ZVEI,
in a call with reporters.
Turnover in the overall battery market in 2020 stood at 5.9
billion euros ($1.09 billion), with the lithium-ion segment
seeing growth of 63% to 3 billion euros.
Lithium-ion batteries are also used in medical equipment,
smartphones, power tools and electric bikes.
ZVEI said that most lithium-ion cells were imported from Asia
into Germany. In German they are then turned into final battery
products in a comprehensive production chain. Apart form
domestic uses, they are also reexported to European and
international markets.
But imports of cells from European countries such as Poland were
also growing, ZVEI noted.
Demand for the second biggest segment, lead acid batteries, fell
by 26% to 740 million euros. This came as combustion engine and
fork lift truck manufacturing sank in the coronavirus crisis,
which curbed industrial activity and demand.
The car industry uses lead acid batteries for example in the
supply of onboard systems while they are also used in emergency
medical care and data centres.
Volkswagen, the world's second biggest carmaker, said on Tuesday
it is vital to get a handle on raw materials access and costs
for EV battery cells, which apart from lithium include graphite,
cobalt and nickel, to exert more control over key components.
It has mapped out plans to build six battery factories across
Europe to 2030 together with partners.
($1 = 0.8246 euros)
(Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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