【SMM Analysis】 Recent Battery Recycling Developments (May 26-30)

The following key battery recycling projects progressed this week:

Jiangxi Province
• A 20,000-ton/year battery waste recycling project received preliminary environmental approval in Ganzhou High-Tech Zone. The facility will process spent ternary lithium-ion cells, 3C battery cells, and cathode scraps to recover black mass, copper powder, aluminum powder, and iron sheets.
• A new 10,000-ton/year lithium battery recycling facility was signed in a western township with a CNY 480 million investment. Three companies (Company A, B, C) will establish operations to recover lithium, copper, and aluminum from end-of-life batteries.

Hunan Province
• Phase I of a CNY 5 billion battery-grade lithium carbonate project (15,000-ton/year capacity) nears trial production. Developed by a National High-Tech Enterprise, the facility achieves >95% battery material purification efficiency – an industry benchmark. Upon full operation, Phase I is projected to generate CNY 2 billion in annual output value.

Hubei Province
• Environmental reviews advanced for two lithium battery recycling projects:

• A 30,000-ton/year facility (investment: CNY 30 million) will process defective batteries (7,800 tons) and electrode materials (22,200 tons).

• A 20,000-ton/year power battery dismantling project (CNY 220 million investment) will repurpose existing 10,000-m² workshops.
  • Initial environmental disclosure occurred for another 20,000-ton battery recycling initiative, drawing industry attention.

Jiangsu Province
• A second 10,000-ton/year battery recycling park project (CNY 480 million investment) was signed by three enterprises (Company A, B, C), enhancing regional industry clustering and circular resource utilization.

Guangdong Province
• Phase II of a 60,000-ton/year waste battery recycling project (CNY 651 million investment) entered environmental review. It will cascade-utilize 18,760 tons of batteries and produce 15,954 tons of black mass (NMC/LFP/LCO types), with half the feedstock sourced externally.

Industry Collaboration
• A strategic supply agreement was signed for 150,000 tons of LFP cathode materials (2025-2029), valued over CNY 5 billion, between two new energy enterprises.

Materials Expansion
• A Fujian-based fluoromaterials project (Phase 1.5) received approval to add 1,900 tons/year of high-performance fluoropolymers while adjusting PTFE resin capacity. Post-expansion, total fluoromaterial output will reach 11,220 tons/year.