China's Energy Storage Shipments Surpass 100GWh in a Single Month for the First Time, While U.S. and German Installations Remain Strong

Overview

This report is a monthly global energy-storage data tracker covering China's energy-storage battery shipments, capacity, and tenders; installations in the United States and Germany; and the performance of major battery manufacturers. Global energy-storage deployment maintained rapid growth in June, with record shipments in China and accelerating overseas demand.

Core views

China's demand is driven by declining battery costs and an improving policy environment, enhancing energy-storage economics; high utilization rates and strong tender volumes support near-term demand. U.S. installations rebounded markedly in June, while utility-scale energy-storage deployment in Germany grew rapidly. Bernstein expects global ESS battery demand to grow 86% year over year to 1,023GWh in 2026, but believes growth may moderate in the second half.

Analysis framework

The report consolidates installation, shipment, and production data from multiple sources, updates its database monthly with a one-month data lag, and compares shipments, capacity, utilization, and market share across major manufacturers.

Methodology notes

• Data TrackingMonthly Energy Storage Tracker

  Multi-source operating data tracking

  Combines installation, shipment, and production data to form a monthly global energy-storage database, with a one-month lag in data updates.

• Industry AnalysisSupply-Demand and Competitive Landscape Analysis

  Shipments, capacity, utilization, tenders, and market share

  Assesses industry conditions and competitive positioning through demand-side installations and tenders, supply-side capacity and utilization, and changes in manufacturer market share.

Asset mapping & comparison

Structured mapping from thesis to named assets (strengths, weaknesses, peers, risks).

• CATL

  Leading energy-storage battery manufacturer and the report's key recommended name

  Strengths

  June energy-storage shipments of 21.3GWh, up 64% year over year; cumulative 2026 market share of 21.7%, ranking first in the industry; monthly energy-storage utilization rate of 97%.

  Comparison

  June shipment volume was significantly higher than Hithium's 9.8GWh and EVE's 9.2GWh; its cumulative share also led EVE and Hithium, both at 9.2%.

  Risks

  If industry growth slows in the second half, energy-storage demand falls short of expectations, or competition intensifies, its leading position and shipment growth may come under pressure.

Key data

• China's June energy-storage battery shipments100.9GWh, up 65% year over year and 3% month over monthShipments exceeded 100GWh in a single month for the first time.
• China's cumulative energy-storage shipments in 2026507.8GWh, up 97% year over yearDomestic shipments were 97.5GWh and overseas shipments were 3.4GWh; overseas growth was faster year over year.
• China's June energy-storage capacity utilization95%It was 70% in the same period last year.
• China's June energy-storage tender volume95.3GWh, up 72% year over yearCumulative tender volume in 2026 was 374.8GWh, up 192% year over year.
• U.S. June energy-storage installations9.8GWh, up 121% year over yearCumulative installations in 2026 were 21.7GWh, up 8% year over year.
• Germany's June energy-storage installations1.0GWh, up 69% year over yearUtility-scale energy storage was 0.56GWh, up 255% year over year; cumulative installations in 2026 were 4.4GWh, up 43% year over year.
• CATL's June energy-storage battery shipments21.3GWh, up 64% year over yearCumulative shipments in 2026 were 110.1GWh, up 63% year over year, with a cumulative market share of 21.7%.
• Global 2026 energy-storage demand forecast1,023GWh, up 86% year over yearBernstein expects demand to reach 2,109GWh by 2030, implying a 20% CAGR from 2026 to 2030.

Impact & implications

Industry data indicate that energy-storage demand remains in a phase of rapid expansion, with China as the main source of incremental demand and improving overseas installations strengthening the resilience of global demand. High utilization rates are conducive to improving supply-demand dynamics, and leading manufacturers are more likely to benefit through scale, customer relationships, and delivery capabilities; CATL maintains a clear lead in both shipments and market share.

Risks

• Bernstein expects energy-storage demand growth to potentially slow in the second half.
• Energy-storage demand is relatively sensitive to declining battery costs, policy support, and project economics.
• The monthly database has a one-month update lag, and the latest data may be revised subsequently.
• Rapid industry capacity expansion and manufacturer competition may affect supply-demand balance and market share.

What to watch

• Whether China's energy-storage shipments can sustain growth from a high base, as well as the durability of overseas shipments.
• Whether China's tender volume, awarded volume, and 95% high utilization rate can translate into subsequent actual shipments.
• Whether the rebound in monthly U.S. installations continues, and the pace of growth in German utility-scale energy storage.
• Shipment growth and market-share changes for CATL, EVE, Hithium, CALB, and BYD.
• Whether global energy-storage demand reaches Bernstein's 2026 forecast of 1,023GWh.