-- Hailiang Co., Ltd. (SHE: 002203) has finalized the validation of its advanced copper foil production lines, positioning the company as a vital "capacity amplifier" for a market grappling with a severe shortage of high-spec materials. This development coincides with a violent stratification within the industry: while standard commodity-grade products are mired in price wars, high-performance variants for AI hardware and next-gen batteries face a critical supply crunch.
The traditional copper foil landscape is fracturing under divergent technological demands. On one side, the drive for energy density in electric vehicle (EV) batteries has pushed manufacturers like CATL and BYD toward ultra-thin 4.5μm foils. On the other, the global AI boom is fueling a desperate need for high-frequency, low-profile foils for high-performance servers and switches. "The barrier to entry has shifted from capital to chemistry," noted one industry analyst. "Success now depends on mastering the micro-structure of the copper itself to meet these specialized specifications."
To navigate this volatility, Hailiang’s Gansu-based subsidiary has aggressively pivoted its production mix toward 3-10μm foils. This isn't just a capacity expansion; it is a calculated retreat from the commoditized "general-purpose" market in favor of high-margin segments where technical moats are deep and import substitution remains a primary growth engine for domestic leaders.
Engineering the "Unbreakable" Foil: A Technical Breakthrough
The core of Hailiang’s recent success lies in a breakthrough that resolves a long-standing trade-off in metallurgy: the inverse relationship between strength and conductivity. The company’s 10μm foil has clocked a tensile strength of 897MPa—effectively doubling the performance of standard lithium-battery foils. This represents a fundamental shift in the material's "strength ceiling."
Data from the Gansu facility confirms that the foil maintains a conductivity of 89% IACS, outclassing most high-strength copper alloys currently on the market. For battery manufacturers, this combination allows for tighter winding without the risk of foil breakage, directly improving production yields. For AI hardware, it ensures the signal integrity required for high-speed data transmission across dense server architectures.
Perhaps more critical for industrial use is the material’s thermal stability. Nano-structured foils have historically suffered from "self-annealing"—a failure where properties degrade at room temperature. Hailiang’s testing, involving 150°C heat treatment and 180-day storage cycles, showed zero significant degradation. This stability is achieved through a proprietary additive system and a closed-loop electrolyte management process developed in-house to ensure consistency at scale.
Operational Scale and Market Impact
Unlike many specialized materials stuck in the laboratory phase, Hailiang’s high-end capacity is fully operational. The Gansu site supports bulk procurement, a necessity for the strategic supply chains of global battery giants. By moving these specialized foils into mass production, Hailiang is de-risking the supply chain for downstream partners who previously relied on volatile import markets for high-spec materials.
Public filings underscore this momentum: In 2025, Hailiang’s copper foil division hit a high-growth stride, with sales volume surging 83.68% to 67,600 tons and revenues doubling to 5.792 billion RMB. This scale-up has already translated into bottom-line results, with the Gansu project successfully pivoting to profitability, netting 41.58 million RMB. The trajectory steepened in Q1 2026, as sales jumped 155% YoY to 21,800 tons, driving a 120 million RMB net profit—a dramatic 166 million RMB swing from the previous year. Beyond domestic gains, Indonesia Hailiang—the industry’s first mover in overseas expansion—has cleared rigorous audits from global tier-1 players. The facility now serves a high-tier roster, including five of the world’s top 10 power battery giants and two of the top three 3C digital leaders, effectively cementing Hailiang’s role as a primary strategic partner for titans like CATL and BYD.
The company’s integration with leaders like CATL and BYD has created a feedback loop for faster R&D iterations, allowing Hailiang to bypass the trial-and-error plaguing smaller competitors. Institutional interest has spiked, with investors increasingly viewing Hailiang as a specialized technology enabler rather than a traditional metals processor. As AI and EV sectors continue their upward trajectory, the companies controlling the underlying material science will hold the most leverage.
The Road Ahead
The copper foil sector has evolved into a high-stakes tech race. While Hailiang enjoys a head start with validated capacity, rival capital is flowing into the high-end space. Defending its position will depend on keeping its R&D engine running faster than the inevitable wave of imitators. At this stage, however, Hailiang has achieved what many struggle with: translating laboratory breakthroughs into a stable, industrial-scale reality.
About Hailiang Co., Ltd.
Hailiang Co., Ltd. is a global leader in high-performance copper products, providing critical components for the new energy, telecommunications, and electronics sectors.
Contact Info:
Name: Chencheng Cai
Email: Send Email
Organization: Hailiang Co., Ltd.
Website: https://www.hailiangstock.com
Release ID: 89190869
If there are any problems, discrepancies, or queries related to the content presented in this press release, we kindly ask that you notify us immediately at error@releasecontact.com (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or support you with press release takedowns. Ensuring accurate and trustworthy information is our unwavering commitment.
