Samsung SDI today announced the development of a second battery production facility equipped with state-of-art and innovative lines in Seremban, Malaysia. With a total of 1.7 trillion won (RM6 billion) investment phase-by-phase until completion in 2025, Plant 2 at Samsung SDI Energy Malaysia (SDIEM) will start mass-production of PRiMX 21700 cylindrical batteries (21mm X 70 mm) in 2024.
Samsung SDI said in a statement that its decision to construct the second Malaysian factory comes as a strategy to meet the rising demand for cylindrical batteries which are used in various applications, ranging from electrical tools, micro-mobility to electric vehicles.
Established in 1991, SDIEM is the first overseas business entity of Samsung SDI. The company started off by producing Braun tubes in its early years before shifting to batteries in 2012.
The groundbreaking ceremony of Plant 2 at SDIEM was attended by Samsung SDI’s president and CEO Yoonho Choi, the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Dato’ Seri Haji Aminuddin bin Harun, State Legislatures of Negeri Sembilan, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Malaysia, Lee Chi-beom, and many representatives from SDIEM’s partner companies, including POSCO Chemical, W-SCOPE, and Iljin Materials.
Company president Choi said: “Today’s groundbreaking ceremony will serve as a starting point for realising our vision to become a global top tier company by 2030. With the successful completion and early stabilisation of Plant 2, we will make SDIEM the center of the global battery industry.
“With the support from the Malaysian state government and partner companies for best quality, we will be able to realize the vision much faster.”
Aminuddin said in his speech that investments from high-impact industries, such as Samsung SDIEM are integral to the state’s vision of driving robust economic growth in Malaysia and Negeri Sembilan, which is outlined in our Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 plan.
“Not only is this testament to our economic potential in Negeri Sembilan, but also the investment-friendly policies implemented by the State. Samsung SDIEM’s investment to be the pioneer in Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Cell manufacturing in Seremban will continue to create jobs for the youth and spur more opportunities for local businesses.”
The global cylindrical battery market is forecast to grow from 10.17 billion cells in 2022 to 15.11 billion cells in 2027, with an annual growth rate of 8% on average, as demand expands from electrical tools, micro-mobility to electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
