A very positive future is forecast for the battery manufacturing industry in Asia, and for the further development of sustainable and profitable long-term markets. In detail, it is argued that the lead/acid battery has a longer and more promising future than its detractors would like others to believe; that the supply of lead will remain fairly stable in both quantity and price; and that the regulatory and environmental pressures in other parts of the world can be turned to favour Asian manufacture, and to increase the global market share of the region.