China’s Battery Exports to US Jump to a Record $1.9 Billion

China’s exports of lithium-ion batteries to the US spiked to a record last month as companies raced to ship products before the government removed tax benefits.

Beijing cut or cancelled export tax rebates on a range of products from batteries to used cooking oil, solar equipment and gasoline. Overseas sales surged ahead of the changes that took effect on Dec. 1.

Shipments of lithium-ion batteries to the US jumped by 27% to $1.9 billion in November from a year earlier. The export tax rebate for batteries — mostly used in electric vehicles — was cut to 9% from 13%. ...