Samsung SDI keeps battery investment above $730M

May 17 (Asia Today) -- Samsung SDI invested more than 1 trillion won in facilities and research during the first quarter despite a slowdown in the global electric vehicle battery market.

The company spent 1.0243 trillion won ($733 million) on capital expenditures and research and development in the January-March period, according to its first-quarter report.

That was down from 1.1314 trillion won ($809 million) a year earlier, reflecting tighter spending controls amid weak battery demand.

Samsung SDI reported an operating loss of 155.6 billion won ($111 million) in the first quarter, though it reduced the deficit by 64%.

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Research and development spending rose sharply to 434.8 billion won ($311 million), up 21.8% from 357 billion won ($255 million) a year earlier. R&D accounted for 12.2% of revenue.

Capital expenditures fell to 589.4 billion won ($421 million), down 23.9% from 774.4 billion won ($554 million) in the same period last year.

Battery industry analysts say Samsung SDI appears to be shifting its strategy from aggressive capacity expansion toward advanced technology development, including solid-state batteries and 46-millimeter cylindrical cells.

The book value of Samsung SDI's assets under construction stood at 7.5205 trillion won ($5.38 billion) at the end of the first quarter, up about 330 billion won ($236 million) from the end of last year.

Samsung SDI is pursuing major overseas projects including a joint battery plant with General Motors in Indiana and a second joint plant with Stellantis.

A battery industry official said aggressive facility expansion during a downturn could increase fixed-cost pressure.

"Samsung SDI appears to be adjusting the speed of investment while focusing on high-value products and supply chain stability," the official said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260517010004588