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Where does Panasonic (Solar/Battery) source its components?
Japan. Supply chain mapped to 41 inputs across 10 countries.
Federal screeningClean
No federal designation found. Panasonic (Solar/Battery) is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and Japan is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Is Panasonic (Solar/Battery) a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
Medium49% weighted
15 in covered nations - 10 elevated, of 41 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
6 of 8 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Supplier2
Component11
Processing / Refining8
Raw Material10
Mine / Extraction9
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
0
Designated (0%)
15
Covered nation (37%)
10
Elevated (24%)
16
No known factor (39%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the Panasonic (Solar/Battery) supply chain
41 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Panasonic (Solar/Battery).
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Energy (Solar/Battery)HQ Osaka, Japan; cell plants Sparks NV & De Soto KS (US), Japan | Japan | No known risk factor | Japanese OEM. Core product is high-nickel cylindrical Li-ion cells (2170/4680) for Tesla and others. Exited in-house solar manufacturing in 2021 (sold HIT/HJT cell+module ops to REC Group) and fully exited solar+storage by 2025; solar arc is legacy/OEM-sourced. |
Supplier (2)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Metal MiningNiihama, Ehime, Japan | Japan | No known risk factor | Longstanding NCA cathode supplier to Panasonic. Japanese refiner of nickel/cobalt; also recycling nickel closed-loop with Panasonic (2025). |
| Redwood Materials (recycled CAM)McCarran, Nevada | United States | No known risk factor | US recycled high-nickel cathode active material supplier for the De Soto, Kansas plant. Domestic, closed-loop. |
Component (11)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680)Sparks, Nevada; De Soto, Kansas | United States | No known risk factor | Finished cylindrical automotive cell. NV supplies Tesla exclusively; KS (32 GWh) opened July 2026, mass-producing 2170 cells for multiple customers. |
| NCA Cathode Active Material (CAM)Sumitomo Metal Mining, Niihama, Japan | Japan | No known risk factor | High-nickel nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathode. Sumitomo Metal Mining is Panasonic's primary NCA CAM supplier for Tesla cells; capacity expanding to 120kt by 2028. US supply also via Redwood Materials (recycled). |
| pCAM Precursor (Ni-Co-Al hydroxide)Sumitomo Metal Mining, Japan | Japan | No known risk factor | Precursor cathode active material co-precipitated from nickel/cobalt/aluminum sulfates. SMM produces pCAM in Japan feeding its NCA CAM line. |
| Graphite Anode Active MaterialNOVONIX Tennessee; Nouveau Monde Canada | United States | Elevated sourcing risk | Anode of the cell. Panasonic off-takes synthetic graphite from NOVONIX (TN) and natural graphite from Nouveau Monde (Canada) to localize; but incumbent anode supply chain is China-dominated = review. |
| Silicon Anode AdditiveSila (Moses Lake, WA); Nexeon (UK) | United States | No known risk factor | Nano-composite silicon boosts energy density. Panasonic sources from Sila Nanotechnologies (WA) and UK-based Nexeon for De Soto cells. Allied = clean. |
| Separator (PE/PP)Asahi Kasei (Japan / Canada plant) | Japan | No known risk factor | Polyolefin microporous separator. Asahi Kasei (Japan) is a leading supplier building a >$1B wet-process plant in Canada for North American EV market. Toray also Japanese. Allied = clean. |
| Electrolyte (LiPF6 + carbonate solvents)Japan / China supply | Japan | Elevated sourcing risk | LiPF6 salt in carbonate solvents. Japanese suppliers exist (Asahi Kasei), but China dominates LiPF6 salt and solvent production = review. |
| Copper Foil (anode current collector)China (Jiangxi/Zhejiang electrodeposition) | China | Covered nation | 6μm battery-grade electrodeposited copper foil. China dominates battery copper foil fabrication (Jiangxi Copper, Hailiang) = flagged. |
| Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) & Cell CanChina smelting | China | Covered nation | Aluminum foil current collector + cylindrical can. China dominates alumina/electrolytic aluminum + foil rolling = flagged. |
| HJT/HIT Solar Panel (legacy/OEM)REC Group (majority China National Bluestar-owned) | Norway | Elevated sourcing risk | Legacy solar arc. Panasonic sold HIT cell/module manufacturing to REC Group (2021), which is majority-owned by China National Bluestar; EverVolt modules now OEM-sourced. Ownership/China exposure = review. |
| Silicon Solar Cell / WaferChina (ingot/wafer) | China | Covered nation | Monocrystalline c-Si wafer/cell. Ingot+wafer stages absent from US; overwhelmingly China = flagged. |
Processing and refining (8)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Refiner - Sumitomo (Japan)Niihama refinery, Japan | Japan | No known risk factor | Allied domestic nickel sulfate refining. SMM refines Class-1 nickel/nickel sulfate in Japan from imported intermediates. |
| Nickel Sulfate Refiner (China)China (e.g. Ningbo/Quzhou converters) | China | Covered nation | China controls most global chemical conversion of nickel intermediates (Indonesian MHP) into battery-grade nickel sulfate. China-refined = flagged FEOC chokepoint. |
| Cobalt Refiner (China)China (Huayou/CMOC-linked refineries) | China | Covered nation | China refined ~67%+ of global cobalt; Chinese refineries rely almost entirely on DRC ore. FEOC midstream chokepoint. |
| Lithium Refiner (North America)Nevada / Thunder Bay, Ontario | United States | No known risk factor | Allied conversion: ioneer's Nevada processing and Frontier's planned Thunder Bay lithium conversion facility for LiOH. |
| Lithium Refiner (China)China (spodumene converters) | China | Covered nation | China holds ~70% of global lithium chemical conversion, importing Australian spodumene. Any China-converted lithium = flagged. |
| Spherical Graphite Refiner (China)China (Heilongjiang/Shandong) | China | Covered nation | <1% of uncoated spherical graphite is processed outside China; HF-route purification + coating. Dominant incumbent midstream = flagged FEOC chokepoint. |
| Copper Foil Refiner (China)China | China | Covered nation | Electrodeposition of Cu into battery foil concentrated in China = flagged midstream. |
| Aluminum Smelter (China)China | China | Covered nation | Alumina refining + Hall-Héroult electrolytic aluminum + foil rolling concentrated in China = flagged. |
Raw material (10)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-grade Nickel SulfateJapan / Indonesia / China conversion | Japan | Elevated sourcing risk | Nickel sulfate for the cathode. SMM refines domestically in Japan (clean), but a large share of global nickel sulfate is converted in China from Indonesian MHP; mixed sourcing = review. |
| Nickel MHP / Matte IntermediateMorowali / Obi Island HPAL, Indonesia | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Mixed hydroxide precipitate from HPAL of laterite ore. Indonesia dominates intermediate output; Chinese-owned/financed HPAL facilities = review. |
| Battery-grade Cobalt SulfateChina conversion | China | Covered nation | Cobalt sulfate for NCA (Panasonic is reducing/eliminating cobalt over time). China refines ~two-thirds+ of world cobalt = flagged. |
| Lithium (carbonate / hydroxide)North America / Australia sourced | United States | Elevated sourcing risk | Panasonic/PPES secured lithium from ioneer Rhyolite Ridge (NV) and MoU with Frontier Lithium (Ontario). But most global lithium chemical is China-refined; mixed = review. |
| Synthetic Graphite (anode)NOVONIX, Chattanooga, Tennessee | United States | No known risk factor | Off-take agreement, shipments from 2025. Made from needle coke via graphitization/coating. US = clean. |
| Needle Coke / Petroleum CokeUS/global refineries | United States | Elevated sourcing risk | Precursor for synthetic graphite (calcined needle coke). China accounts for ~69% of low-sulfur petroleum coke; non-China feed = review. |
| Natural Graphite (anode)Nouveau Monde Graphite, Quebec | Canada | No known risk factor | Renewable-powered natural graphite from Canada = allied/clean alternative to China spherical graphite. |
| LiPF6 Lithium SaltChina | China | Covered nation | Lithium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte salt is overwhelmingly produced in China = flagged. |
| PolysiliconXinjiang / Ningxia / Inner Mongolia | China | Covered nation | China produces ~75-85% of polysilicon; ~35% of world supply from Xinjiang (UFLPA forced-labor entity list) = flagged. |
| Metallurgical Silicon MetalChina | China | Covered nation | Silicon metal reduced from quartz feeds polysilicon (Siemens process). China-dominated = flagged. |
Mine and extraction (9)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Laterite Mine (Indonesia)Central Sulawesi / North Maluku | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Indonesia is >50% of global mined nickel. Much capacity is Chinese-owned; laterite feed for HPAL/MHP. |
| Nickel Mine (Philippines)Philippines (Nickel Asia/SMM ties) | Philippines | No known risk factor | Philippine laterite ore is an allied feedstock for SMM's Japan refining route. |
| Cobalt Mine (DRC)Katanga / Kolwezi, DRC | Democratic Republic Of Congo | Elevated sourcing risk | >70% of world cobalt mined in DRC. Chinese firms own/operate/finance most DRC cobalt mines; child/forced-labor and FEOC ownership concerns. |
| Lithium Mine - Rhyolite Ridge (Nevada)Rhyolite Ridge, Nevada | United States | No known risk factor | ioneer lithium-boron mine; supply agreement with Toyota-Panasonic JV (PPES) for lithium carbonate. Domestic. |
| Lithium Spodumene Mine (Australia)Western Australia (Pilbara/Greenbushes region) | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Australia is the largest spodumene producer (allied mining) but concentrate is largely shipped to China for conversion = review. |
| Natural Flake Graphite Mine (China)Heilongjiang, China | China | Covered nation | China mines ~two-thirds of natural flake graphite feeding the anode chain. |
| Copper Mine (Chile)Chile | Chile | No known risk factor | Copper cathode feed for foil. Chile is a leading allied copper miner (clean at mine). |
| Bauxite Mine (Australia/Guinea)Australia / Guinea | Australia | No known risk factor | Bauxite feed for alumina (Bayer). Allied mining = clean at mine; smelting downstream drives FEOC status. |
| Quartz / Silica MineChina / global | China | Covered nation | High-purity quartz/silica ore for silicon metal. Mining spread globally but China-processed downstream = review. |
Material flow (40 relationships)
- Panasonic Energy (Solar/Battery) manufactures Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) (Cylindrical Li-ion cell)
- Panasonic Energy (Solar/Battery) manufactures HJT/HIT Solar Panel (legacy/OEM) (HJT/HIT solar module (legacy/OEM))
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles NCA Cathode Active Material (CAM) (NCA cathode)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Graphite Anode Active Material (Graphite anode)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Silicon Anode Additive (Silicon anode additive)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Separator (PE/PP) (Separator)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Electrolyte (LiPF6 + carbonate solvents) (Electrolyte)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Copper Foil (anode current collector) (Copper foil current collector)
- Cylindrical Li-ion Cell (2170/4680) assembles Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) & Cell Can (Aluminum foil / can)
- NCA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Sumitomo Metal Mining (NCA CAM)
- NCA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Redwood Materials (recycled CAM) (Recycled NCA CAM)
- Sumitomo Metal Mining supplies pCAM Precursor (Ni-Co-Al hydroxide) (pCAM precursor)
- pCAM Precursor (Ni-Co-Al hydroxide) supplies Battery-grade Nickel Sulfate (Nickel sulfate)
- pCAM Precursor (Ni-Co-Al hydroxide) supplies Battery-grade Cobalt Sulfate (Cobalt sulfate)
- NCA Cathode Active Material (CAM) supplies Lithium (carbonate / hydroxide) (Lithium (carbonate/hydroxide))
- Battery-grade Nickel Sulfate refines Nickel Refiner - Sumitomo (Japan) (Nickel sulfate (Japan))
- Battery-grade Nickel Sulfate refines Nickel Sulfate Refiner (China) (Nickel sulfate (China))
- Nickel Refiner - Sumitomo (Japan) sources from Nickel Mine (Philippines) (Nickel laterite ore)
- Nickel Sulfate Refiner (China) refines Nickel MHP / Matte Intermediate (Nickel MHP intermediate)
- Nickel MHP / Matte Intermediate sources from Nickel Laterite Mine (Indonesia) (Nickel laterite ore)
- Battery-grade Cobalt Sulfate refines Cobalt Refiner (China) (Cobalt sulfate)
- Cobalt Refiner (China) sources from Cobalt Mine (DRC) (Cobalt ore/hydroxide)
- Lithium (carbonate / hydroxide) refines Lithium Refiner (North America) (Lithium chemical (NA))
- Lithium (carbonate / hydroxide) refines Lithium Refiner (China) (Lithium chemical (China))
- Lithium Refiner (North America) sources from Lithium Mine - Rhyolite Ridge (Nevada) (Lithium ore/brine)
- Lithium Refiner (China) sources from Lithium Spodumene Mine (Australia) (Spodumene concentrate)
- Graphite Anode Active Material supplies Synthetic Graphite (anode) (Synthetic graphite)
- Graphite Anode Active Material supplies Natural Graphite (anode) (Natural graphite)
- Synthetic Graphite (anode) sources from Needle Coke / Petroleum Coke (Needle coke precursor)
- Natural Graphite (anode) refines Spherical Graphite Refiner (China) (Spherical graphite (incumbent))
- Spherical Graphite Refiner (China) sources from Natural Flake Graphite Mine (China) (Flake graphite ore)
- Electrolyte (LiPF6 + carbonate solvents) supplies LiPF6 Lithium Salt (LiPF6 salt)
- Copper Foil (anode current collector) refines Copper Foil Refiner (China) (Electrodeposited copper foil)
- Copper Foil Refiner (China) sources from Copper Mine (Chile) (Copper cathode)
- Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) & Cell Can refines Aluminum Smelter (China) (Aluminum foil)
- Aluminum Smelter (China) sources from Bauxite Mine (Australia/Guinea) (Bauxite / alumina)
- HJT/HIT Solar Panel (legacy/OEM) assembles Silicon Solar Cell / Wafer (Silicon solar cell/wafer)
- Silicon Solar Cell / Wafer supplies Polysilicon (Polysilicon)
- Polysilicon refines Metallurgical Silicon Metal (Metallurgical silicon)
- Metallurgical Silicon Metal sources from Quartz / Silica Mine (Quartz/silica ore)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Panasonic (Solar/Battery), and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Secondary sources (28) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- redwoodmaterials.com redwoodmaterials.com/news/redwood-high-nickel-cathode-panasonic/
- na.panasonic.com na.panasonic.com/news/panasonic-energy-partners-with-novonix-for-sustainable-synthetic-graphite-supply-in-ev-battery-production
- trellis.net trellis.net/article/local-clean-and-circular-supply-chains-panasonic-advances-ev-battery-tech/
- news.panasonic.com news.panasonic.com/global/press/en250331-3
- mining.com mining.com/web/sumitomo-metal-mining-looks-to-boost-battery-materials-output-possibly-in-us/
- fastmarkets.com fastmarkets.com/insights/china-delivers-first-ev-battery-grade-nickel-sulfate-indonesia/
- csis.org csis.org/analysis/indonesias-nickel-industrial-strategy
- saltworkstech.com saltworkstech.com/articles/hardrock-spodumene-lithium-processing/
- mckinsey.com mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/australias-potential-in-the-lithium-market
- source.benchmarkminerals.com source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/infographic-china-controls-three-quarters-of-graphite-anode-supply-chain
- fastmarkets.com fastmarkets.com/insights/chinas-anode-market-tilts-toward-synthetic-graphite/
- ourworldindata.org ourworldindata.org/data-insights/most-of-the-worlds-cobalt-is-mined-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-but-refined-in-china
- resourcetrade.earth resourcetrade.earth/publications/critical-metals-ev-batteries
- mining.com mining.com/mixed-hydroxide-precipitate-the-new-class-one-nickel/
- chargedevs.com chargedevs.com/newswire/lithium-supplier-ioneer-signs-supply-agreement-with-toyota-panasonic-jv/
- newswire.ca newswire.ca/news-releases/frontier-lithium-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-panasonic-energy-to-advance-north-american-battery-supply-chain-820790338.html
- cen.acs.org cen.acs.org/energy/energy-storage-/Japans-battery-separator-makers-rethink/103/web/2025/10
- asahi-kasei-mobility.com asahi-kasei-mobility.com/en/applications/battery-materials/
- pv-magazine.com pv-magazine.com/2021/02/01/panasonic-to-exit-solar-manufacturing/
- pv-magazine-usa.com pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/04/30/panasonic-exits-solar-and-battery-storage-ending-decades-long-journey/
- csis.org csis.org/analysis/addressing-forced-labor-concerns-polysilicon-produced-xinjiang
- kharon.com kharon.com/brief/polysilicon-from-xinjiang-permeates-global-supply-chains-prohibited-from-entering-united-states
- na.panasonic.com na.panasonic.com/news/panasonic-energy-to-purchase-silicon-anode-materials-from-nexeon-enabling-production-of-higher-energy-density-ev-batteries-in-the-us
- na.panasonic.com na.panasonic.com/news/panasonic-energy-partners-with-sila-for-procurement-of-next-generation-silicon-anode-material-for-ev-batteries
- na.panasonic.com na.panasonic.com/news/panasonic-energy-begins-mass-production-at-new-automotive-lithium-ion-battery-factory-in-kansas-aiming-for-annual-capacity-of-32-gwh-to-accelerate-us-local-production
- pcbaaa.com pcbaaa.com/top-50-copper-foil-manufacturers-in-china/
- al-kc.com al-kc.com/the-manufacturing-process-of-aluminum-foil-from-bauxite-to-final-product/
- phoenixvalleysolar.com phoenixvalleysolar.com/post/panasonic-hit-technology-rec-group-license-arizona
Common questions
- Where does Panasonic (Solar/Battery) source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 41 inputs across 10 countries, including 17 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the Panasonic (Solar/Battery) supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 15 of 41 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 10 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is Panasonic (Solar/Battery) itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- No federal designation found. Panasonic (Solar/Battery) is not named on any of the 3 federal restricted-party lists screened for this record (DOD Section 1260H, BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List), and Japan is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.