US battery imports fell sharply in the third quarter as developers grew cautious about relying on Chinese-made products ahead of new federal restrictions, according to an analysis of US customs data by Nikkei Asia.
Imports from July through September dropped 36.2% from the previous quarter, while shipments from China fell steeply in September.
The decline followed passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which phases out tax credits for projects using batteries linked to Chinese firms beginning next year. China still supplied more than 80% of US lithium-ion battery imports during the quarter.
Battery equipment prices fell by 40% in 2024 and are on track for another sharp fall in 2025.
— Ember (@ember_energy) December 13, 2025
It now costs $125 per kWh to import, build and connect utility-scale storage projects outside China and the US 🔋 https://t.co/hnmLAm7Km5 pic.twitter.com/QmJL3bAVcB
Despite the slowdown, overall demand remains strong. Battery imports for the first nine months of 2025 rose more than 46% from a year earlier, driven largely by energy storage projects supporting rising electricity use.
Imports for electric vehicles declined as the Trump administration ended EV purchase tax credits and automakers scaled back production.
Analysts expect imports, mainly from China, to remain dominant through 2026, even as US manufacturing slowly expands.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
