[Reporter’s Notebook] Association President Also Absent... K-Battery Outside Korea-Europe Interest at European Exhibition

LG Energy Solution booth at 'InterBattery Europe' held in Munich, Germany from the 14th to 16th (local time)
[Photo provided by Battery Industry Association]

The Korea Battery Industry Association, aiming to provide new battery business opportunities to domestic companies, held its first overseas event, 'InterBattery Europe,' which concluded on the 16th (local time). The association publicized extensively to the media that since the event was held at the same time and place as Europe’s largest energy exhibition, 'The Smarter E Europe,' the synergy effect would be significant. However, a lackluster atmosphere was sensed here and there.

This event was the first since Kwon Young-soo, chairman of LG Energy Solution, took office as the association president. However, the association president was absent from the venue. Not only LG Energy Solution but also Samsung SDI’s booth lacked company representatives. SK On did not participate in the event at all. Among the three major Korean battery companies, one did not attend, and the other two were missing key elements. Posco Future M and EcoPro BM, recently the most notable companies in the battery industry as association executive members, also did not participate.

Due to low corporate participation, the event scale was smaller than expected. While it was anticipated that 100 companies would participate with 200 booths, the actual number was 73 companies with 170 booths. The pre-booked spaces were eventually handed over to other local European events. Even on the last day of the exhibition, there were no reports of contracts or memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed with client companies.

There is also doubt about whether various side events organized by the association needed to be held in Europe. This includes the 'InterBattery Europe Seminar,' which introduces participating companies’ products and technologies, and the conference 'The Battery Day Europe,' which shares global battery industry trends. Key company representatives were not seen at the seminar, and the topics covered at the conference?such as electric vehicle battery policies and battery recycling?were fundamental issues that raise questions about the necessity of holding them in Europe.

Europe is a battery market comparable to the United States. Many domestic companies have already entered the market. From a corporate perspective, there is no compelling reason to participate in local exhibitions. Korean battery companies are already trading with European automakers, and equipment suppliers are delivering to several places including Northvolt. Professor Park Cheol-wan of Seojeong University said, “Looking at new car registration records in China for the first half of this year, the number of models equipped with ternary batteries increased compared to last year. Domestic battery companies are strong in ternary batteries, and equipment and material companies have significant business ties with Chinese companies, so it would have been better to hold exhibitions in China rather than Europe.”

During the event period, Europe formalized the Battery Act, which specifies battery lifecycle management standards. It is urgent to analyze its impact on the domestic battery industry and prepare countermeasures. Instead of consumptive exhibitions, wouldn’t it be better for the association to consider local market response strategies together to better support battery companies?

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.