For the first time ever, South Korean manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries slipped past their Japanese counterparts to grab hold of the most substantial wedge of the li-ion segment. The shift took place in the April-June period, according to report by the Nikkei.
The Nikkei says Japan’s control over the global li-ion segment fell to 33.7 percent in the second quarter of 2011, while South Korean manufacturers increased their total share by 4.9 points to end the quarter at 42.6 percent, according to data released by Techno Systems Research.
A Techno Systems Research analyst suggests that even though Japan’s li-ion manufacturers have re-established production in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, they aren’t likely to grab hold of the top spot in the heated li-ion industry as Japan’s players simply can’t be price-competitive with South Korean rivals.
