Report Buyer, the online destination for business intelligence for major industry sectors, has added a new report analysing world battery materials.

The publication World Battery Materials: Industry forecasts for 2012 & 2017 reports that the world demand for materials used in the production of batteries will increase 3.9% per year to $22.8 billion in 2012.

Among the major world regions, the most rapid growth in battery materials demand will be seen in the Asia/Pacific region. Most of the gains will be centred in China, which has grown to become the largest battery materials market in the world. India, Indonesia and South Korea are also expected to see above-average advances in materials demand.

The report shows that gains will be driven by strong growth in shipments of advanced rechargeable batteries such as lithium ion (Li-Ion) and nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) types, which are increasingly being used in consumer electronics and motor vehicles.

Additionally, rising income levels in the developed world will fuel demand for materials in alkaline and lithium consumer batteries. However, gains for battery materials will be limited by a less favourable outlook for more mature and outdated battery types, particularly zinccarbon cells, but also lead-acid and nickel-cadmium chemistries.

Authors of the report note that metals will continue to be the leading battery material product type through 2012, comprising well over half of total demand. Metal prices spiked during the 2002-2007 period, spurring strong value gains for metal materials in batteries.

However, advances through 2012 will be restrained by an expected moderation in metal prices, particularly in the large lead metal market, which accounted for the overwhelming majority of demand worldwide. Chemical materials will see the fastest gains, with robust demand for high-value lithium and nickel chemicals fuelled by rising production of Li-Ion and Ni-MH batteries.

World Battery Materials: Industry forecasts for 2012 & 2017

Report Buyer Product ID: FED00275
Report Buyer Product Category: Computing and Electronics