Single-Use (Primary) Batteries in the US

Report Overview

Check out the related study:

Rechargeable (Secondary) Batteries

Zinc air batteries post fastest gains

In a continuation of historical trends, zinc air batteries will post the most rapid advances of single-use (primary) batteries, buoyed by increased purchases of hearing aids by an aging population. Primary lithium batteries will post similar advances through 2020, boosted by their higher energy density relative to other single-use types and their ability to be used in high-drain applications.

Alkaline batteries continue to dominate market

Alkaline batteries, which accounted for two-thirds of overall single-use battery demand in 2015, will continue to dominate the market, due to their affordability, wide- spread availability, and the large existing stock of electric and electronic products that they can power. While alkaline battery sales will improve from the declines in dollar terms during the 2010-2015 period, climbing just under one percent per year, the number of units sold will continue to fall.

Consumer applications to face strong competition

The consumer market, which in 2015 accounted for almost two-thirds of all single-use battery sales, will post the largest gains in value terms but will register the weakest gains of any major single-use battery market in percentage terms. The growing energy requirements of many consumer devices and lower lifetime cost of rechargeables will continue to promote a shift in overall battery demand toward rechargeable types at the expense of single-use cells. In addition, competition from smartphones will lead to decreased use of products such as camcorders, cameras, and MP3 players, further dampening sales gains. Nevertheless, manufacturers have developed single-use batteries that are capable of use in high-drain applications, and demand for these higher- value advanced cells will help bolster segment sales in dollar terms.

Medical equipment spending to drive growth

Healthcare applications will see the fastest gains in demand for single-use batteries of all major markets through 2020, buoyed by an acceleration in medical equipment spending growth, the rising number of adults over the age of 65, and the increasing number of battery-powered medical devices in use. Though a relatively small market, healthcare will also record the second largest gains in dollar terms, trailing only the much larger consumer market.

Study coverage

Single-Use (Primary) Batteries in the US presents historical demand data (2005, 2010 and 2015) plus forecasts (2020 and 2025) by product (e.g., alkaline, primary lithium, zinc air, silver oxide, zinc-carbon/ zinc-chloride, etc.) and market (e.g., entertainment, toys and games, lighting, photography, industrial, government, other).