Chinese manufacturing forms the core component of global energy storage production across battery cells, Power Conversion Systems (PCS), and integrated BESS enclosures. Benchmark data indicates that total stationary BESS cell shipments surpassed 600 GWh in 2025, with Chinese manufacturers supplying the vast majority of international demand. However, analyzing this market requires examining supply chain layers beyond raw cell production, including enclosure integration, power electronics, and regional manufacturing specialization.
We wrote this article for procurement managers, Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors, and supply chain strategists who need verified operational data on Chinese BESS suppliers. We distilled these findings directly from our white paper, 'Navigating China's BESS Supply Chain', which you can download on its landing page.
Key takeaways
- Chinese companies accounted for 90% of global BESS cell shipments in 2025, occupying all top ten positions in supplier rankings.
- BESS manufacturing relies on specialized regional industrial clusters across Guangdong, Jiangsu, Beijing, Zhejiang, and Hubei.
- Chinese integrators hold eight out of ten positions in global system integration rankings, competing alongside international providers like Tesla and Fluence.
- Global trade policies are shifting direct battery export flows, accelerating growth in Latin American and Middle Eastern import markets.
Regional production clusters
China's BESS manufacturing ecosystem is organized into distinct regional industrial hubs rather than concentrated in a single province. CNESA manufacturer data confirms that the top five provinces by facility count are Guangdong, Jiangsu, Beijing, Zhejiang, and Hubei.
Each manufacturing hub offers specific industrial capabilities:
- Guangdong hosts 27 major manufacturing facilities, centered around electronics and export logistics hubs in Shenzhen and Huizhou. Major players such as BYD and EVE Energy utilize this regional ecosystem for cell production, module assembly, and international commercial operations.
- Jiangsu contains 25 major manufacturing sites, serving as a hub for system integration and power electronics. Companies like CALB are headquartered in Changzhou, alongside specialized suppliers of transformers, switchgear, and AC-side grid integration equipment.
- Beijing, Zhejiang, and Hubei host 19, 18, and 15 manufacturing facilities, respectively. Zhejiang hosts major battery material suppliers such as Huayou Cobalt, while Hubei supports expanded cell manufacturing facilities, including EVE Energy's industrial complex in Jingmen.
Cell suppliers and system integrators
Upstream cell production remains concentrated among leading Chinese manufacturers. Benchmark reports that the top ten BESS cell suppliers controlled 90% of global cell shipments in 2025, with every company headquartered in China. CATL maintained the largest market share at approximately 20%, followed by Hithium and EVE Energy at around 12% each, with BYD and CORNEX completing the top five. CNESA's global ranking lists the same leading cell providers, alongside REPT BATTERO, CALB, AESC, Gotion High-tech, and Great Power.
In the system integration segment, competitive dynamics are more varied. Benchmark ranks BYD as the top global BESS integrator in 2025 with a 13% market share, followed by Tesla at 10%, Sungrow at 9%, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute at 6%, and CATL at 6%. Chinese-headquartered suppliers occupied eight of the top ten global integrator spots in Benchmark's assessment, with Tesla and Fluence representing the only non-Chinese companies in the top ten. InfoLink places Tesla, Sungrow, BYD, Huawei, and CRRC Zhuzhou Institute as its top five global ESS suppliers, while CNESA's shipment ranking places Sungrow first, followed by Tesla and CRRC Zhuzhou Institute.
Power conversion systems and trade dynamics
The PCS segment converts DC battery energy to AC power for grid interconnection, serving as a critical determinant of system efficiency and grid-code compliance. TYCORUN projects the global energy storage PCS market to grow from $5.413 billion USD in 2023 to $11.58 billion USD by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. CNESA ranks Sungrow as the leading Chinese PCS supplier by global shipments in 2025, followed by Kehua Tech, Sineng, NR Electric, Soaring, Times Electric, IN-Power, Inovance, Hopewind, and XJ Power Electronics.
At the macro trade level, battery exports from China reached approximately $84 billion USD in 2025. Reuters and Ember custom data indicate that Europe received 42% of these exports, Asia accounted for 26%, and North America imported 17%. Emerging markets recorded rapid demand growth, with battery export receipts rising 107% to the Middle East and 99% to Latin America.
Trade policy changes are altering direct shipment pathways to North America. US imports of lithium-ion batteries from China grew from $2.1 billion USD in 2020 to a peak of $16.5 billion USD in 2024, before declining to $11.8 billion USD in 2025 due to tariff adjustments. China's share of total US lithium-ion battery imports dropped from 71% in 2023 to 59% in 2025. Despite these shifting tariff structures, Chinese manufacturers maintain supply dominance in core upstream components, particularly LFP cathode materials and battery cells.
Secure your BESS supply chain: join the Solarplaza Battery Tour China
Chinese manufacturers supplied 90% of global battery cells for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) applications in 2025, and Chinese companies hold eight of the top ten global system integrator positions. With global stationary storage cell shipments exceeding 600 GWh, Chinese production hubs form the primary engine of the global energy storage buildout.
Navigating this massive manufacturing base purely through remote correspondence exposes developers, Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors, and investors to severe commercial risks. Shifting tariff structures, varying quality standards across regional clusters, and complex Power Conversion System (PCS) grid-code compliance mean that relying on unverified supplier lists can lead to project delays and foregone revenue.
To build resilient procurement strategies, you need direct relationships with decision-makers on the factory floor.
We are organizing the Solarplaza Battery Tour China from 12-16 October 2026 to bridge the gap between market data and verified commercial partnerships. Over five intensive days in Shanghai and Hefei, we will lead an international delegation of energy executives directly into China's premier energy storage industrial clusters.
What you will experience on the tour
- Tour operational manufacturing facilities for battery cells, PCS equipment, and integrated BESS enclosures in Shanghai and Hefei.
- Hold private meetings with C-suite executives at leading battery and system integration suppliers.
- Evaluate production quality, automation levels, and lifecycle safety controls firsthand.
- Build long-lasting business relationships with an international cohort of developers, EPCs, and storage investors.
Event details
- Dates: 12-16 October 2026
- Locations: Shanghai and Hefei, China
- Audience: Project developers, EPCs, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), investors, and procurement directors
