Recently, a batch of lithium-thionyl chloride batteries from a Wuhan-based technology company was successfully exported, marking the successful completion of Hubei Province’s first export transaction after the release of new regulations for the import and export of lithium-thionyl chloride batteries. It is understood that the new regulations will save Hubei’s lithium-thionyl chloride battery companies more than 30 million yuan annually, effectively promoting the foreign trade development of related industries in Hubei. On January 5th, customs officers from Hanyang Customs, under the Wuhan Customs, visited lithium-thionyl chloride battery manufacturers to gain a detailed understanding of the policy implementation. Lithium-thionyl chloride batteries, a distinctive and advantageous export product of Hubei Province, are widely used in many fields such as smart meters and automotive electronics, and once accounted for more than half of the national export volume. Data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, Hubei exported 15.82 billion yuan worth of lithium batteries (including lithium-thionyl chloride batteries), a year-on-year increase of 143.6%.
In the past, the export of lithium-ion batteries faced many difficulties. Licenses were required from relevant departments, and the processing time for these licenses was generally 45 to 60 days. For some international orders with high time requirements, companies struggled to respond and meet their needs in a timely manner, which significantly limited their development and market expansion.
In response to the urgent needs of companies, Hanyang Customs, under the Wuhan Customs, took proactive measures. They went deep into the production lines of companies, conducted on-site investigations of battery manufacturing processes and material characteristics, and worked hard to clarify the obstacles in policy implementation.
“We discovered that thionyl chloride in lithium-ion batteries exists in the form of an electrolyte, and because the batteries are fully sealed, it is technically difficult to extract high-purity substances economically and safely, resulting in an extremely low actual risk of diffusion.” Based on thorough analysis, Wuhan Customs actively offered suggestions through multiple channels, recommending the implementation of scientific classification and supervision for lithium-ion batteries and the establishment of a policy buffer period. Following scientific evaluation, in December 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued the “Notice on Optimizing the Import and Export Supervision Measures for Lithium-ion Chloride Batteries.” The new regulations clarify that exporting lithium-ion batteries with a single thionyl chloride content of less than 1 kg no longer require relevant licenses. This policy adjustment greatly simplified the export process. A relevant official from the Comprehensive Department of Wuhan Customs stated that after the implementation of the new regulations, the customs clearance time for lithium-thionylene battery exports has been significantly shortened, now completed within half a working day, greatly improving customs clearance efficiency. This has significantly enhanced the international competitiveness of enterprises, not only reducing their compliance burden but also injecting new vitality into the industry’s development. These changes will further promote the Hubei lithium-thionylene battery industry to achieve better results in the international market and provide strong support for Chinese goods to go global.
