Sodium-ion Scale-up Drives Demand for Battery-Grade Aluminum Foil, Industry Enters New Phase of Structural Optimization

As sodium-ion batteries enter the phase of large-scale commercialization, battery-grade aluminum foil—a critical material shared by both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries—has seen significantly rising demand. Data shows that the price of 12μm double-bright aluminum foil increased from RMB 36,800 per ton in early January 2026 to RMB 38,600 per ton by July 10, representing a cumulative rise of RMB 1,800 per ton, or nearly 5%. Since the beginning of this year, aluminum foil manufacturers have widely implemented price increases for customers, with processing fees cumulatively raised by RMB 1,000–1,500 per ton. The industry is highly concentrated, with the market share of leading players reaching approximately 38%. Both the anode and cathode of sodium-ion batteries use aluminum foil, and the aluminum foil consumption per GWh is double that of lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, specialized carbon-coated aluminum foil for sodium-ion batteries commands a notable premium in processing fees, further expanding profit margins. On the supply side, the long lead time for high-end aluminum foil production equipment has resulted in slow capacity expansion. On the demand side, major battery makers are scheduled to commission large-scale sodium-ion battery plants in the third and fourth quarters of 2026, driving sustained procurement demand for aluminum foil and potentially tightening the spot supply of high-end, sodium-ion-specific aluminum foil. Additionally, composite aluminum foil—emerging as a next-generation, high-safety current collector material—has already been adapted for sodium-ion battery systems and is poised to capture incremental markets in both energy storage and power applications for sodium-ion batteries, serving as a strong complement to the high-end aluminum foil segment. With traditional aluminum foil supply and demand remaining in a tight balance, coupled with long-term demand growth driven by sodium-ion battery expansion and the premium development trajectory of composite aluminum foil, the battery-grade aluminum foil industry is entering a new phase of structural optimization.