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AI Data-Center Demand Recasts Korea’s Battery Giants as Samsung SDI Profits, LG Energy Solution Loses

Rising U.S. demand for data-center batteries steers production toward local factories.

Overview

  • LG Energy Solution reported a first-quarter net loss of 944 billion won and an operating loss of 207.8 billion won Thursday, citing weaker EV battery sales and early costs from new U.S. energy-storage lines.
  • The company said its North American energy-storage network now spans five sites and is on track for more than 50 GWh of capacity by year-end.
  • Samsung SDI, which disclosed results Tuesday, posted a 56.1 billion won net profit after higher U.S. energy-storage sales and stronger cylindrical-cell demand, and said much of its U.S. storage output is already booked for two to three years.
  • Industry reports said Samsung SDI is in final talks to supply Amazon Web Services with battery backup units for data centers in a deal valued at up to about 1 trillion won, which the company has not confirmed.
  • Executives see AI-fueled data centers lifting U.S. energy-storage demand toward 2030, while tax credits that favor domestic content push Korean suppliers to build U.S.-based supply chains.