Battery Separators Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Type (Lithium-ion, Lead Acid, Others), By Material (Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Others), By End-Use (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Industrial, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Separators are a generally porous membrane that is placed between an anode and cathode electrode of the battery. The primary function of a separator is to prevent electrical short circuits by keeping two electrodes apart. It also allows the fast transfer of the ionic charge carriers that are needed to complete the circuit for the passage of the current in an electrochemical cell. The structure and properties of the separator play an essential role in determining the battery performance, including life cycle, safety, energy density, and power density, by influencing cell kinetics but does not participate in any cell reactions.

Due to strict environmental regulations, the battery separators industry has seen remarkable development in latest years. The increasing population and industrialization, combined with increasing demand for electric vehicles and numerous developments in battery technology, drive the consumption of battery separators worldwide. However, the low heat resistance of separators is the major challenge.

The battery separators market is categorized by its type, material, and end-use. Based on type, the lithium-ion battery segment is expected to grow due to increased production of lithium-ion battery for EVs. The Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) is a multi-government policy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles worldwide. Polypropylene separators are widely used in Li-ion batteries for EVs.

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Polypropylene is one of the most versatile polymers available and can be used as both fiber and plastic, in various applications. The automotive segment is expected to grow as the demand for more sustainable transportation is increasing across the world; EVs are being commercialized and adopted on a larger scale. Hence, the increasing adoption and awareness of electric vehicles support the growth of the battery separator market.

An increase in demand for electric vehicles to decrease carbon footprint, the fast rise in automotive revenues, along with increasing demand for smart electronic devices are the major market drivers. In addition, Improvement in lithium-ion batteries has upsurged market growth. The increasing population and industrialization, coupled with the growing demand for electrically-operated vehicles and various advances done in the battery technology, are driving the consumption of battery separators around the world.

However, safety issues related to the usage of batteries is the major restraint for the market. Additionally, maintenance of uniformity in the quality of materials along with low heat resistance of separators is the major challenge for the market.

Key Players Covered

Some of the major companies that are present in battery separators market are Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Amer-Sil, Asahi Kasei, B&F Technology, Bernard Dumas, Cangzhou Mingzhu Plastic, Cyg Chinaly New Material, Dowdupont, Dreamweaver International, Eaton, Electrovaya, Entek International, Foshan Jinhui Hi-Tech, Optolectronic Material, Freudenberg, Hollingsworth & Vose, Jnc Corporation, Mitsubishi Plastics, Nippon Sheet Glass, SK Innovation, Sumitomo Chemical, Targray Technology International, Teijin, Toray Industries, UBE Industries, and W-Scope Corporation.

SEGMENTATION

Regional Analysis

The global battery separators market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific is expected to the dominant player due to the enormous demand for battery materials in emerging nations such as China and India. In Europe, governments have started offering subsidies related to electric vehicle manufacturing, which is expected to increase the demand for Battery Separators in EV batteries. Recently, this region has emerged as a hub for automobile production, opening avenues and opportunities for the OEM market. In North America, the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) is a multi-government strategy to speed up electric vehicle adoption. The Latin American market is expected to grow due to the expanding the automotive industry, in Brazil and Mexico, which is expected to project electric vehicle sales. The market in the Middle East & Africa is expected to experience considerable growth in the coming years with increasing investments on smart, clean, and sustainable development projects.

Key Industry Developments

• In May 2019, Umicore announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the cobalt refining and cathode precursor activities of Freeport Cobalt in Kokkola, Finland, for a total debt and cash-free consideration of $150 million, plus the working capital to be acquired at the end of March, which amounted to approximately $40 million. Through this acquisition, Umicore is aiming to expand its integrated battery materials footprint.
• In Mar 2019, Asahi Kasei announced plans to invest € 238 million to expand the manufacturing of lithium-ion battery separators at its Shiga, Japan and Charlotte factories in North Carolina. The firm is already growing the separator manufacturing ability to 1,1 billion m2/year by 2020.
• In Aug 2018, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced that it has reached an agreement with Deutsche Beteiligungs AG to acquire shares of Cleanpart Group GmbH, which has developed semiconductor-related services in Europe and the U.S. All the shares were turned over in October of this year.