韩媒称资金从芯片轮动至二次电池与ESS主题ETF

Exchange-traded funds investing in energy storage systems and solid-state battery companies are drawing attention as signs emerge that money concentrated in large-cap chip stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is rotating into secondary batteries. With energy storage systems emerging as a way to offset slowing electric vehicle demand, expectations are also building around Korean battery makers' production expansion in North America and the commercialization of solid-state batteries.
The KODEX Solid-State Battery ESS TOP2 Plus returned 21.24% over the past month as of the previous session, according to the Korea Exchange on the 4th. Cumulative net buying by retail investors since the fund's listing in June this year reached 50.9 billion won. Analysts attribute the gains to funds shifting into the secondary battery sector, which had risen less while large-cap chip stocks underwent a correction, and to expectations that battery demand will expand beyond electric vehicles into power grids.
The KODEX Solid-State Battery ESS TOP2 Plus spreads its investments across Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution, Korea's leading battery makers, along with companies making up the energy storage and solid-state battery value chains. As of the same day, LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI accounted for 27.65% and 27.14% of the fund respectively, with the two stocks making up more than 54% of the total.
The remaining assets are divided among power equipment makers, energy storage materials and components suppliers, and companies producing core solid-state materials. Holdings include LS ELECTRIC and Hyosung Heavy Industries, as well as Isu Specialty Chemical, Lotte Energy Materials, Daejoo Electronic Materials and L&F. The fund also holds Seojin System and SFA Nexel, which make energy storage enclosures and battery process equipment, giving it exposure from battery cells through materials and equipment.
The rapid growth of the global energy storage market is also supporting sentiment toward these companies. Global shipments of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage reached 461.3 gigawatt-hours in the first half of this year, up 71% from a year earlier, according to SNE Research. The North American market grew 83%, and the combined local market share of Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution rose to 19.7% from 13.9%.
Korean manufacturers are accelerating their North American production expansion. Samsung SDI plans to begin mass production of new energy storage products using lithium iron phosphate batteries in the fourth quarter of this year at its joint venture plant in Indiana. LG Energy Solution is operating production bases in the United States and securing local lithium carbonate supply chains. In solid-state batteries, Samsung SDI has completed construction of a pilot line and is pushing for large-scale mass production next year.
"With energy storage systems emerging as a breakthrough to overcome the electric vehicle chasm, we expect exports to North America and expanded local production," said Shin Hyun-jin, a manager at Samsung Asset Management. "Process equipment, packaging and lithium iron phosphate materials companies are expected to benefit, and as the commercialization of solid-state batteries comes into view, expectations for related cathode material companies will also rise."