(Yicai) July 31 -- Shares of Ronbay New Energy Technology rose after the major Chinese producer of battery cathode materials said it plans to invest CNY4.7 billion (USD700 million) to build a new factory in central China to strengthen its position in the fast-emerging sodium-ion battery segment and meet rising demand from major customers.

Ronbay's stock price advanced as much as 3.4 percent intraday before paring gains to close up 0.7 percent at CNY27.95 (4.10). The shares are still almost 20 percent down from the start of the year.

Ronbay plans to build a facility to make sodium-ion battery materials in Xiantao, Hubei province, with a total annual production capacity of 300,000 tons, reinforcing its strategy to become a leading supplier of materials for this new kind of battery, the Ningbo-based company announced yesterday.

Sodium-ion batteries are cheaper, safer, and perform better in low temperatures than lithium-ion batteries, although they have lower energy density. As the technology moves toward mass production and commercialization, sodium-ion battery and upstream materials projects are becoming a major investment focus in China.

Ronbay said the project will be built in phases over an estimated 24-month construction period and is expected to generate a nearly 20 percent return on investment. The first phase will add annual capacity of 50,000 tons, with construction scheduled to begin in August 2026 and production expected to start in May 2027, while Phases 2 and 3 will add new annual capacity of 100,000 tons and 150,000 tons respectively, with construction timelines subject to market demand.

Scaling Up Sodium-Ion Battery Materials

The new project is expected to help Ronbay convert its technological strengths in sodium-ion battery cathode materials into manufacturing scale and cost advantages, improving its ability to supply products on a large scale, it said.

Ronbay has identified sodium-ion battery materials as a key growth driver. It currently operates a dedicated production line with an annual capacity of 12,000 tons and a 6,000-ton pilot line, with products already incorporated into the supply chains of several core customers.

Ronbay is one of China's leading suppliers of ternary lithium battery cathode materials and has expanded into lithium iron phosphate and sodium-ion battery cathode materials in recent years. In November last year, it signed a long-term agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology, aiming to become the battery giant's primary supplier of sodium-ion battery cathode materials by the end of 2029. The companies also plan to cooperate on product development and supply chain management.

Editor: Emmi Laine