Supply Chain Research

The end of production of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been partly blamed on replacement battery supplier Amperex, part of TDK, the FT reports. Panjiva data shows it was a relative newcomer to the export scene, with $111 million of exports year to date at end August vs. $19 million for the whole of 2015. Around 75% of its exports went to Vietnam, home of Note 7 production. Chinese LiON battery exports are extremely fragmented, but rapidly growing. Growth of 11% in August is typified by increasingly export-focussed suppliers including Byd and Shenzhen 1 Touch.