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| Author | InfoLink |
| Updated | August 11, 2026 |
InfoLink Consulting has released its latest Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database.
According to the latest data from InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database, global cell shipments totaled 467.84 GWh, up 94.76% YoY. Shipments have risen quarter by quarter since 1Q25, exceeding 200 GWh for three consecutive quarters.
Tight supply-demand balance persists as market landscape shifts
In 1H26, as mid-tier suppliers continued to ramp up shipments, market concentration declined further, with the top-10 concentration ratio (CR10) falling to 82.3%, another record low. Meanwhile, CATL, Hithium, EVE Energy, BYD, and CALB retained the top five positions, with CR5 nearing 56.5%.
*Source: InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
1H26 themes: Tight balance becomes the norm; competitive landscape remains in flux
- Tight balance becomes the norm: Since the beginning of 2026, shipments have risen strongly and remained elevated, showing no signs of a pullback. Driven by policy stimulus and a surge in demand, the industry’s traditional off-season lull was significantly muted. Overall, supply and demand remained tightly balanced, continuing the trend seen since 3Q25.
- Competitive landscape remains in flux: Competitive dynamics in 1H26 indicate that industry standings are still shifting rapidly. At the supplier level, Cornex rose rapidly, disrupting the previously stable top-six lineup. LGES and other Korean manufacturers rebounded strongly on the strength of the U.S. market, with their market shares reversing previous declines. Meanwhile, fast-rising challengers such as Sunwoda and Ganfeng accelerated their advance, clustering between 11th and 15th place and mounting a strong challenge for the top ten. Overall, the leading group is becoming less entrenched, while mid-tier suppliers are moving up rapidly.
2H26 outlook: Market leaders poised to regain share; upstream suppliers expand across the value chain
- Market leaders poised to regain share: As large-capacity cells enter the mass-shipment stage, leading suppliers may regain market share, supported by consistent product quality, economies of scale, established sales channels, and competitive pricing.
- Upstream suppliers expand across the value chain: Moving beyond their traditional role as upstream resource suppliers, companies such as Ganfeng LiEnergy and Rongjie Energy are expanding vertically into midstream battery manufacturing and even downstream system integration. This shift could reshape the global energy storage top-ten competitive landscape in 2H26.
Utility-scale storage remains the primary growth driver amid fierce competition across tiers
In 1H26, global utility-scale energy storage cell shipments reached 402.36 GWh, up 84.09% YoY. In the utility-scale segment, the top five companies were CATL, Hithium, BYD, CALB, and EVE Energy. The top ten suppliers currently fall into four distinct tiers by market share: over 25%, over 10%, 7–9%, and 3.5–6%.
In 1H26, the penetration rate of 500+ Ah cells in the utility-scale storage cell market exceeded 10%. From the current perspective, 587 Ah and 588 Ah cells remain the primary focus of capacity expansion. However, suppliers remain cautious about adding capacity and largely favor a wait-and-see approach. Progress on production lines for models such as 648 Ah cells warrants close attention.
*Source: InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Small-scale storage momentum continues; the E.R.G* trio holds firm
In 1H26, small-scale storage cell shipments reached 65.48 GWh, up 202.57% YoY. The small-scale storage market continued to post marked QoQ growth in 2Q26, with end-market purchasing appetite remaining strong. In terms of the competitive landscape, EVE Energy retained the top spot by a narrow margin, while Great Power ranked second on the strength of its well-established customer portfolio. REPT BATTERO remained among the top three. Market-share differences within the E.R.G trio were minimal, while their combined share exceeded 60%, highlighting a clear three-way race for market leadership.
In 1H26, the residential storage market saw an accelerating shift in mainstream cell formats from 100 Ah toward 314 Ah, with the combined penetration rate of 280 Ah and 314 Ah cells approaching 30%. In 2H26, the rollout of 392 Ah cells in the residential storage market warrants attention, as some suppliers are actively promoting a transition from 314 Ah to 392 Ah cells.
*Note: InfoLink defines EVE Energy, REPT BATTERO, and Great Power as the “Emerging Residential-storage Giants“ (“E.R.G”). The three manufacturers have strong channel networks and manufacturing expertise in the residential storage cell segment.
*Source: InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Shipments to markets outside China account for well over half, with Chinese suppliers remaining dominant
In 1H26, energy storage cell shipments to markets outside China totaled 248.73 GWh, accounting for approximately 53.2% of global shipments. The top five suppliers by energy storage cell shipments in markets outside China were CATL, EVE Energy, BYD, Hithium, and Great Power. Among South Korean suppliers, LGES ranked eighth. Notably, as residential storage markets outside China expanded, suppliers with greater exposure to this segment, such as EVE Energy and Great Power, climbed markedly in the rankings.
*Source: InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Looking ahead to 2H26, supply-demand balance is expected to remain tight, with no clear signs of easing. Many suppliers are projected to maintain book-to-bill (B/B) ratios* above 1.2 for several consecutive months. Based on leading suppliers’ order backlogs and the pace at which capacity comes online, InfoLink has raised its 2026 global energy storage cell shipment forecast to 1,026 GWh, with the market set to sustain rapid growth.
*Note: The B/B ratio, or book-to-bill ratio, is calculated as orders divided by shipments.
On data sources
The shipment volumes, rankings, and related information presented in this article are based on data verification through regular interviews with upstream and downstream industry players. For companies that did not proactively provide data, InfoLink has made reasonable estimates based on actual market research.
InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies.
Disclaimer
The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise. Shipment data and rankings are not necessarily based on information proactively provided by companies; some are derived from third-party sources or InfoLink’s proprietary model estimates.
In the event of any disagreement over the data, the manufacturer’s official disclosure shall prevail. InfoLink reserves the right of final interpretation and explanation of the data sources and research results. Without authorization, no third party may extract or reproduce this content for commercial purposes or quote it in a misleading manner.