[SMM Analysis] Recent Updates on the Recycling Incident: 5.26-5.3

》Check SMM nickel quotes, data, and market analysis

The progress of recycling events this week is as follows:

[10,000-mt Waste LFP Project Lands in Anhui] Recently, the Chizhou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment in Anhui Province issued an important announcement, conducting a full-text public consultation on the "Annual Recycling and Regeneration Project of 10,000 mt of Waste Cathode Sheets from LFP Batteries by Anhui Xiaobu New Energy Technology Co., Ltd." (exposure draft). It is reported that the total investment of this project amounts to 100 million yuan, aiming to establish an efficient and environmentally friendly production line for the recycling and regeneration of waste cathode sheets from LFP batteries by introducing advanced equipment such as pyrolysis furnaces, vibrating screens, vacuum ribbon mixers, iron separators, filling and packaging machines, nitrogen generators, and dust and exhaust gas treatment devices. Upon completion, the project will have the capacity to annually recycle and process 10,000 mt of waste cathode sheets from LFP batteries.

This week's lithium battery recycling events are as follows:

[Approval Announcement for 20,000-mt Recycling and Utilization Project in Jiangxi] Recently, the Ganzhou High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Jiangxi Province issued a notice of the proposed approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the "Annual 20,000-mt Comprehensive Utilization Project of Battery Scrap by Tengyuan Cobalt in Ganzhou". Upon completion, the project will have the capacity to annually process 20,000 mt of battery scrap. The project uses waste ternary lithium-ion battery cells, 3C battery cells, and cathode sheets as raw materials, and through a series of processes, recycles battery materials (black mass), copper powder, aluminum powder, and iron sheets.

[100,000-mt Lithium Battery Recycling Project Successfully Signed] Recently, Chengxi Town held a centralized signing ceremony for the Lithium Battery Venous Industrial Park Project, with three companies—Lianyungang Houze Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd., Atomic Lithium Battery Technology (Lianyungang) Co., Ltd., and Lvyuncang Renewable Resources (Lianyungang) Co., Ltd.—successfully signing contracts. The total investment of the project reaches 480 million yuan. Upon completion, it is expected to have an annual processing capacity of 100,000 mt of end-of-life batteries, achieving efficient recycling of resources such as lithium, copper, and aluminum.

[15,000-mt Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Project to Begin Trial Production Soon] This project is invested by Hunan Keyking Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., a national high-tech enterprise and a national specialized and innovative "Little Giant" enterprise, with a total investment of 5 billion yuan and covering an area of over 300 mu. It is the first large-scale enterprise in Wangcheng District for the recycling and regeneration of waste lithium resources. The company's self-developed purification rate for waste batteries can reach over 95%, placing it at the forefront of the industry. The project is divided into three phases, with the first phase capable of producing 15,000 mt of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually. The annual output value of the first phase is expected to reach 2 billion yuan after it goes into operation.

[30,000-mt Hubei Lithium Battery Recycling and Reuse Project Lands] Recently, Jingchu.com issued the second public consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (exposure draft) for the "Lithium Battery Recycling and Reuse Project by Wuhan Liyang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd."The project has a total investment of 30 million yuan and is located in the existing plant leased from Wuhan Steel Jiangbei Group Industrial Service Co., Ltd. as the production site, constructing a 30,000 mt/year lithium battery recycling line. Upon completion, the project will annually recycle and reuse 30,000 mt of lithium batteries, including 7,800 mt of non-compliant lithium batteries and 22,200 mt of cathode and anode materials, which will have a positive impact on resource recycling.

[20,000 mt Lithium Battery Recycling Project Initial Announcement] Recently, the Ecological Environment Bureau of Xiantao City, Hubei Province issued the first public announcement of the environmental impact report for the "Hubei Baifu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Annual Treatment of 20,000 mt New Energy End-of-Life Power Battery Recycling, Dismantling, and Comprehensive Utilisation Project." Project information shows that Hubei Baifu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. will use existing plants for technological transformation and expansion without additional land acquisition. The project has a total investment of 220 million yuan, utilizing the original 10,000 m² warehouse to construct an annual treatment capacity of 20,000 mt for new energy end-of-life power battery recycling, dismantling, and comprehensive utilisation.

[150,000 mt LFP Cathode Material Cooperation Agreement Signed] On May 22, Lopal's subsidiary Changzhou Liyuan New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and CORNEX New Energy Co., Ltd. formally signed a "Strategic Cooperation Agreement" at CORNEX's global headquarters. According to the agreement, CORNEX New Energy will purchase a total of 150,000 mt of LFP cathode materials from Liyuan Technology from 2025 to 2029, with an estimated total contract value exceeding 5 billion yuan.

[Jiangsu 100,000 mt Lithium Battery Recycling High-Efficiency Circular Utilisation Project Signed] Recently, Chengxi Town, Ganyu District, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province held a significant signing event for the lithium battery venous industrial park project. Three companies—Lianyungang Houze Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd., Yuanzi Lithium Battery Technology (Lianyungang) Co., Ltd., and Lvyuncang Renewable Resources (Lianyungang) Co., Ltd.—successfully signed agreements, injecting new vitality into the local lithium battery recycling industry. The project has a total investment of 480 million yuan and is expected to form an annual treatment capacity of 100,000 mt for end-of-life batteries upon completion, achieving high-efficiency circular utilisation of resources such as lithium, copper, and aluminum. It will effectively promote the agglomeration and development of the lithium battery recycling industry in Chengxi Town, forming a complete industry chain and enhancing the overall strength of the industry.

[Guangdong 60,000 mt Scrap Lithium Battery Resource Utilisation Project Launched] Recently, the Ecological Environment Bureau of Meizhou City, Guangdong Province issued an acceptance announcement for the environmental impact report of the "Meizhou Guangxinrui Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Annual Treatment of 60,000 mt Scrap Lithium Battery Resource Utilisation New Construction Project (Phase II)," which has attracted industry attention. The project involves an investment of 651 million yuan to construct an annual treatment capacity of 60,000 mt for scrap lithium battery resource utilisation (Phase II), with plans for annual second-life application and dismantling of 60,000 mt of scrap lithium batteries. Among them, 30,000 mt of scrap lithium batteries were sourced from Phase I projects, and another 30,000 mt were externally purchased. It is estimated that 18,760 mt of second-life batteries will be produced, generating a total of 15,954 mt of black mass from ternary lithium batteries, LFP batteries, and LCO batteries.

[Hubei's 30,000 mt lithium battery recycling and reuse project lands] Recently, Jingchu.net released the second public consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (Draft) for the "Lithium Battery Recycling and Reuse Project of Wuhan Liyang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.", adding new momentum to the development of the local power battery recycling industry. The project has a total investment of 30 million yuan and will be located in the existing factory buildings of Wuhan Iron and Steel Jiangbei Group Industrial Service Co., Ltd., which will be leased as the production site. A 30,000 mt/year lithium battery recycling and reuse production line will be constructed. Upon completion, the project will be able to recycle and reuse 30,000 mt of lithium batteries annually, including 7,800 mt of non-conforming lithium batteries and 22,200 mt of cathode and anode materials, which will have a positive impact on resource recycling.

[Hubei's 20,000 mt lithium battery recycling and reuse project publicised] Recently, the Xiantao City Ecology and Environment Bureau of Hubei Province released the first public consultation on the Environmental Impact Report for the "Annual 20,000 mt New Energy Waste Power Battery Recycling, Dismantling, and Comprehensive Utilisation Project of Hubei Baifu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd.", an initiative that has attracted industry attention. (Note: This sentence is repeated in the original text and has been translated only once here.)

[5,000 mt/year high-performance fluorine materials project (Phase 1.5) approved] On May 23, the Nanping City Ecology and Environment Bureau approved and publicised the Environmental Impact Report for the "Haidefu 5,000 mt/year High-Performance Fluorine Materials Project (Phase 1.5) of Fujian Haidefu New Materials Co., Ltd." This evaluation covers the first-phase construction content of the project, which includes adding 1,900 mt/year of high-performance fluorine materials while reducing the production capacity of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) suspension resin from 1,000 mt/year to 820 mt/year. After the expansion, the plant will have a total of 16 products, including 15 types of high-performance fluorine materials with a combined production capacity of 11,220 mt/year, as well as 20,000 mt/year of intermediate monomer chlorodifluoromethane (F22) and 11,000 mt/year of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE).

》View SMM nickel product spot quotes

》Subscribe to view historical price trends of SMM metal spot prices

[For more content, please subscribe to SMM Nickel Research Group's products, "Regular Report on China's Nickel, Chromium, and Stainless Steel Industry Chain" and "High-End Report on China's Nickel, Chromium, and Stainless Steel Industry Chain", to obtain the latest data analysis and market trend interpretations for nickel ore, NPI (China + Indonesia), refined nickel, nickel sulphate, chrome ore, ferrochrome, and stainless steel (China + Indonesia)!To subscribe or request a trial copy, please call 021-51666863. Contact: Jian Fu

》Click to subscribe to the SMM China Nickel Industry Chain Annual Report, gaining access to comprehensive industry chain data, survey information, and professional SMM analysis