Samsung SDI Returns to Q1 Profit on US Energy Storage Demand, Eyes AI Data Center Expansion

Gate News message, April 28 — Samsung SDI posted a first-quarter net profit of 56.1 billion won (US$38.1 million) on April 28, rebounding from a 216 billion won (US$147 million) loss a year earlier. Revenue rose 12.6% to 3.6 trillion won (US$2.43 billion), while operating loss narrowed to 155.6 billion won (US$106 million). The turnaround was driven by higher US energy storage system (ESS) battery production and sales, improved demand for higher-margin cylindrical batteries, and lower corporate tax costs.

The company secured a 1.5 trillion won (US$1 billion) supply agreement with a U.S. energy company and plans to use part of StarPlus Energy’s Indiana plant—a joint venture with automaker Stellantis—to produce ESS batteries alongside electric vehicle batteries. Samsung SDI said it is North America’s only non-Chinese supplier of prismatic ESS batteries, a flat rectangular format used in large storage systems, positioning it distinctly in the market.

Looking ahead, Samsung SDI expects a recovery from the second quarter, with ESS demand supported by AI data center growth and EV battery demand bolstered by European incentives. The company is also expanding into AI infrastructure power systems, including Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and Battery Backup Unit (BBU) systems for data centers.