Back to supply chains
Where does Samsung SDI source its components?
South Korea. Supply chain mapped to 38 inputs across 8 countries.
Federal screeningClean
No federal designation found. Samsung SDI 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 South Korea is not a covered nation under the FEOC rules. Is Samsung SDI a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High71% weighted
21 in covered nations - 12 elevated, of 38 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
5 of 6 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Component12
Processing / Refining6
Raw Material12
Mine / Extraction7
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
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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%)
21
Covered nation (55%)
12
Elevated (32%)
5
No known factor (13%)
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 Samsung SDI supply chain
38 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Samsung SDI.
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung SDICheonan / Ulsan, South Korea (cell plants); Goed, Hungary; Kokomo, Indiana (JV) | South Korea | No known risk factor | Korean cell maker; allied OEM. Clean at assembly, but deep-tier midstream is China-heavy. |
Component (12)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCA Cathode Active MaterialEcoPro BM Pohang complex, South Korea | South Korea | No known risk factor | High-nickel NCA (Ni-Co-Al) cathode; 5-yr ~$34B EcoPro BM supply deal 2024-2028. |
| NCM Cathode Active MaterialUmicore (Cheonan, KR / Poland); EcoPro BM | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Ni-Mn-Co cathode; Umicore NMC supply agreement. Precursor tier often China-linked. |
| LFP Cathode Active MaterialL&F, South Korea | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | ~KRW 1.6T LFP deal with L&F for ESS/entry EV; LFP tech + iron phosphate largely China-linked. |
| Graphite Anode Active Material | China | Covered nation | Coated spherical/synthetic graphite anode; ~93% of anode material made in China. |
| Silicon Anode Additive | China | Covered nation | Si/SiC additive historically supplied exclusively by China's BTR; SDI diversifying to KR (MK Electron, Dongjin Semichem). |
| Separator (PE/PP membrane)Asahi Kasei (Japan); Toray (Japan/Korea) | Japan | No known risk factor | Polyolefin separator; Asahi Kasei + Toray primary; W-Scope (KR) diversification. |
| ElectrolyteSoulbrain (KR); Enchem (KR) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Lithium salt in organic solvent; formulation Korean but LiPF6 salt/solvents heavily China-sourced. |
| Copper Foil (anode current collector)Lotte Energy Materials (KR) | South Korea | No known risk factor | Exclusive copper-foil supplier for SDI's first US battery plant. |
| Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Cathode-side current collector; battery-grade Al foil supply mixed (KR/China). |
| Cell Can / Housing | South Korea | No known risk factor | Prismatic/cylindrical aluminum or steel casing. |
| NCA Precursor (pCAM)EcoPro (Pohang), South Korea | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Ni-Co-Al hydroxide co-precipitate; EcoPro integrated but China dominates ~86% of global pCAM. |
| NCM Precursor (pCAM)CNGR / Huayou (China) | China | Covered nation | Ni-Mn-Co hydroxide precursor; ~86% of ternary precursor made in China (CNGR, Huayou). |
Processing and refining (6)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Refiner (MHP/sulfate)China-operated HPAL, Morowali/Weda Bay, Indonesia | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | MHP-to-NiSO4 refining dominated by Chinese-invested Indonesian plants (Huayou, CNGR). |
| Cobalt RefinerHuayou Cobalt / GEM, China | China | Covered nation | DRC cobalt hydroxide shipped to China for refining to CoSO4; ~85% China-controlled. |
| Lithium Refiner (spodumene→LiOH)Ganfeng / Tianqi conversion plants, China | China | Covered nation | Australian spodumene shipped to China for conversion; China = 77% of LiOH refining. |
| Manganese RefinerChina | China | Covered nation | High-purity manganese sulfate refining concentrated in China. |
| Spherical Graphite Refiner (SPG)China | China | Covered nation | Flake→spheronized→purified→coated; ~99% of spherical graphite processed in China (HF route). |
| Aluminum Smelter | China | Covered nation | Primary aluminum for foil/casing; China ~55% of global smelting. |
Raw material (12)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Sulfate | China | Covered nation | Battery-grade NiSO4; majority refined in China / China-controlled Indonesian HPAL. |
| Cobalt Sulfate | China | Covered nation | Battery-grade CoSO4; China refines ~85% of world cobalt. |
| Manganese Sulfate | China | Covered nation | High-purity MnSO4; China dominates battery-grade manganese refining. |
| Aluminum Hydroxide / Nitrate (NCA dopant) | South Korea | Elevated sourcing risk | Al dopant source for NCA; smaller volume. |
| Lithium Hydroxide | China | Covered nation | LiOH for high-Ni NCA/NCM; China refines ~77% of world lithium hydroxide. |
| Lithium Carbonate | China | Covered nation | Li2CO3 for LFP; China dominates carbonate conversion. |
| Iron Phosphate (LFP feedstock) | China | Covered nation | FePO4 for LFP cathode; supply chain almost entirely China-based. |
| Synthetic Graphite (from petroleum coke)China | China | Covered nation | Needle/petroleum coke graphitized at high temp; China produces >50% of synthetic graphite. |
| Petroleum Coke (needle coke) | China | Covered nation | Synthetic graphite feedstock from refinery coke; needle coke China/US/Japan. |
| Silicon Metal | China | Covered nation | Metallurgical-grade silicon for Si anode; China ~70%+ of global silicon metal. |
| Lithium Salt (LiPF6) | China | Covered nation | Electrolyte conductive salt; China dominates LiPF6 production. |
| Carbonate Solvents (EC/DMC/EMC) | China | Covered nation | Organic carbonate solvents; China leads solvent output. |
Mine and extraction (7)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Mine (laterite)Sulawesi / Halmahera nickel laterite mines | Indonesia | Elevated sourcing risk | Indonesia = largest nickel source; mines largely China-financed. Also Philippines, Australia. |
| Cobalt MineGlencore KCC/Mutanda, DRC | Democratic Republic Of Congo | Elevated sourcing risk | Glencore 5-yr deal up to 21,000t cobalt from DRC; allied-mined but China-refined downstream. |
| Lithium Mine (spodumene)Greenbushes / Pilbara hard-rock mines, WA | Australia | Elevated sourcing risk | Australia ~43-70% of hard-rock lithium; allied-mined but ~almost all exported to China to refine. |
| Manganese MineKalahari manganese field, South Africa | South Africa | Elevated sourcing risk | Manganese ore mined in South Africa, Australia, Gabon; refined mostly in China. |
| Iron / Phosphate SourceChina | China | Covered nation | Iron and phosphate feedstock for LFP; overwhelmingly China. |
| Natural Flake Graphite MineHeilongjiang / Shandong, China | China | Covered nation | China mines >60% of natural graphite; also Mozambique, Madagascar. |
| Copper Mine / CathodeAndes copper mines (Chile/Peru) | Chile | Elevated sourcing risk | Copper for foil; mined Chile/Peru/DRC. Foil manufacture in KR (Lotte). |
Material flow (42 relationships)
- Samsung SDI assembles NCA Cathode Active Material (NCA cathode)
- Samsung SDI assembles NCM Cathode Active Material (NCM cathode)
- Samsung SDI assembles LFP Cathode Active Material (LFP cathode)
- Samsung SDI assembles Graphite Anode Active Material (graphite anode)
- Samsung SDI assembles Separator (PE/PP membrane) (separator)
- Samsung SDI assembles Electrolyte (electrolyte)
- Samsung SDI assembles Copper Foil (anode current collector) (copper foil)
- Samsung SDI assembles Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) (aluminum foil)
- Samsung SDI assembles Cell Can / Housing (cell housing)
- Graphite Anode Active Material supplies Silicon Anode Additive (silicon additive)
- NCA Cathode Active Material supplies NCA Precursor (pCAM) (NCA precursor)
- NCM Cathode Active Material supplies NCM Precursor (pCAM) (NCM precursor)
- NCA Cathode Active Material supplies Lithium Hydroxide (lithium hydroxide)
- NCM Cathode Active Material supplies Lithium Hydroxide (lithium hydroxide)
- LFP Cathode Active Material supplies Lithium Carbonate (lithium carbonate)
- LFP Cathode Active Material supplies Iron Phosphate (LFP feedstock) (iron phosphate)
- NCA Precursor (pCAM) supplies Nickel Sulfate (nickel sulfate)
- NCA Precursor (pCAM) supplies Cobalt Sulfate (cobalt sulfate)
- NCA Precursor (pCAM) supplies Aluminum Hydroxide / Nitrate (NCA dopant) (aluminum dopant)
- NCM Precursor (pCAM) supplies Nickel Sulfate (nickel sulfate)
- NCM Precursor (pCAM) supplies Cobalt Sulfate (cobalt sulfate)
- NCM Precursor (pCAM) supplies Manganese Sulfate (manganese sulfate)
- Nickel Sulfate refines Nickel Refiner (MHP/sulfate) (nickel sulfate)
- Cobalt Sulfate refines Cobalt Refiner (cobalt sulfate)
- Manganese Sulfate refines Manganese Refiner (manganese sulfate)
- Lithium Hydroxide refines Lithium Refiner (spodumene→LiOH) (lithium hydroxide)
- Lithium Carbonate refines Lithium Refiner (spodumene→LiOH) (lithium carbonate)
- Nickel Refiner (MHP/sulfate) sources from Nickel Mine (laterite) (nickel ore/MHP)
- Cobalt Refiner sources from Cobalt Mine (cobalt hydroxide)
- Lithium Refiner (spodumene→LiOH) sources from Lithium Mine (spodumene) (spodumene concentrate)
- Manganese Refiner sources from Manganese Mine (manganese ore)
- Iron Phosphate (LFP feedstock) sources from Iron / Phosphate Source (iron/phosphate ore)
- Graphite Anode Active Material refines Spherical Graphite Refiner (SPG) (spherical graphite)
- Spherical Graphite Refiner (SPG) sources from Natural Flake Graphite Mine (flake graphite)
- Spherical Graphite Refiner (SPG) supplies Synthetic Graphite (from petroleum coke) (synthetic graphite)
- Synthetic Graphite (from petroleum coke) supplies Petroleum Coke (needle coke) (petroleum/needle coke)
- Silicon Anode Additive supplies Silicon Metal (silicon metal)
- Electrolyte supplies Lithium Salt (LiPF6) (LiPF6 salt)
- Electrolyte supplies Carbonate Solvents (EC/DMC/EMC) (carbonate solvents)
- Copper Foil (anode current collector) sources from Copper Mine / Cathode (copper cathode)
- Aluminum Foil (cathode current collector) refines Aluminum Smelter (aluminum)
- Cell Can / Housing refines Aluminum Smelter (aluminum)
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 Samsung SDI, 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.
Primary sources (1) - government, filings, standards bodies
Secondary sources (20) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- blackridgeresearch.com blackridgeresearch.com/news-releases/ecopro-bm-signs-usd-34-billion-deal-to-supply-cathode-materials-to-samsung-sdi
- chargedevs.com chargedevs.com/newswire/ecopro-wins-5-year-high-nickel-nca-cathode-material-supply-contract-with-samsung-sdi/
- samsungsdi.com samsungsdi.com/sdi-now/sdi-news/4822.html
- electrive.com electrive.com/2019/10/28/umicore-to-supply-samsung-sdi-with-nmc/
- glencore.com glencore.com/media-and-insights/news/samsung-sdi-and-glencore-extend-their-long-term-strategic-cobalt-partnership
- mining.com mining.com/glencore-samsung-sdi-ink-five-year-cobalt-supply/
- samsungsdi.com samsungsdi.com/upload/download/sustainable-management/Samsung_SDI_Responsible_Minerals_Policy_ENG.pdf
- thelec.net thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=3142
- greenli-ion.com greenli-ion.com/post/demystifying-pcam
- batterydesign.net batterydesign.net/chemistry/cathode/precursor-cathode-active-material/
- source.benchmarkminerals.com source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/infographic-china-controls-three-quarters-of-graphite-anode-supply-chain
- cen.acs.org cen.acs.org/policy/trade/China-restricts-exports-graphite-used/101/i36
- large.stanford.edu large.stanford.edu/courses/2025/ph240/mann1/
- mckinsey.com mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/australias-potential-in-the-lithium-market
- sydney.edu.au sydney.edu.au/sydney-southeast-asia-centre/news/2024/02/28/nickel-and-lithium-cooperation-or-competition-with-indonesia.html
- electrive.com electrive.com/2024/08/29/samsung-sdi-selects-battery-material-supplier-in-the-usa/
- thelec.net thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=459
- kedglobal.com kedglobal.com/battery-materials/newsView/ked202110150004
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiang_Huayou_Cobalt
- miningsee.eu miningsee.eu/cobalt-in-2026-global-supply-chains-drc-dominance-chinese-refining-power-and-the-future-of-battery-metals/
Common questions
- Where does Samsung SDI source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 38 inputs across 8 countries, including 13 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the Samsung SDI supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 21 of 38 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 12 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is Samsung SDI itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- No federal designation found. Samsung SDI 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 South Korea 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.