SZ Next | BTR battery materials power NEV boom

Shenzhen Daily

Shenzhen is committed to building a next-generation, world-class automobile city. With 2.93 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) produced in Shenzhen in 2024 — 23% of China’s total output — the city maintained its position as the nation’s top NEV producer for the second consecutive year.

Driven by proactive government policies and market demand, Shenzhen’s NEV industry chain is continuously improving.

Top anode material supplier

BTR specializes in lithium-ion battery anode materials, cathode materials, and advanced new materials — essential components for the batteries used in NEVs, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems. Batteries are regarded as the heart of NEVs and account for about 40% of their total cost.

Since 2010, BTR has held the title of the world’s largest anode material supplier for 15 consecutive years, capturing a 22% share of the global market in 2024, with an annual production capacity of 575,000 tons.

Corporate culture of innovation

Reflecting on his journey with the company, Huang said, “I joined BTR in 2007 when it was still a small company. The chairman at the time invited me to discuss how to develop the business in the future. I think if you want to grow up, you need to look for something different — that means you need innovation.”

“No one was producing natural graphite anode materials at the time, and China’s natural graphite resources were excellent. We seized that opportunity, and BTR grew rapidly,” he said.

Battery material produced by BTR.

Stressing the company’s strong commitment to research and development (R&D), he stated, “From the start, we invested heavily in R&D. I helped design the R&D system then.”

The company has invested nearly 3 billion yuan in R&D over the past three years, with R&D personnel accounting for 11.49% of the workforce.

These efforts had yielded 692 domestic and international patents by the end of 2024. Furthermore, the company has led and participated in the development of 49 international, industry, and group standards related to new energy materials.

Huang explained, “Innovation comes from meeting customer demands. We listen closely to what our customers need and develop products accordingly.”

He added, “Most of our top management comes from technical backgrounds. BTR is a company managed by experts who prioritize technology and innovation.”

Global production

With a comprehensive production and R&D network, BTR is executing an ambitious global strategy. The company’s global strategy centers on Shenzhen but extends across more than 20 production bases throughout China.

Huang explained, “I think BTR wants to become an international company from 2018, you know, the first time BTR has a good market share.”

It has established production bases in Indonesia and Morocco, with branch and subsidiary companies in Japan, South Korea and Europe. In August 2024, BTR officially commissioned its integrated anode material production project in Indonesia.

Currently, in Morocco, the company is constructing a lithium battery cathode materials plant with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons.

Sustainable development

BTR adheres to sustainable development concepts, promoting growth toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable directions.

Huang explained, “Our goal is to develop safer battery technologies, offering complete material solutions for the next generation of batteries.”

Open, inclusive international team

With an increasingly global footprint, BTR employs staff from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Morocco, and other countries. Strategies for creating an open, inclusive corporate environment are essential in this changing context.

Emphasizing the importance of cultural respect and integration, Huang explained the company’s proactive culture. “In Indonesia, for example, we encourage Chinese staff to learn the local language. Our Indonesia factory CEO learned the local language well enough to communicate efficiently within six months.”

Huang added, “Good relationships between Chinese and local teams help create a happy, productive work environment. At every visit to our foreign branches, I meet local managers to discuss work, which strengthens trust and cooperation.”