Leading experts and industry representatives came together at the International Congress for Battery Recycling (ICBR) in mid-September in Basel, Switzerland, to discuss the challenges facing the sector. One of largest hurdles, congress speakers were agreed, is the uncertainty and complexity of regulations, which differ from country to country and can deter companies from making major investments in necessary recycling infrastructure. Further challenges for recyclers are the slowing growth in the automotive battery market, a lack of available material to recycle and sometimes excess capacity. In addition, there is global competition, especially from Asia. In the face of these headwinds and given the more attractive investment climate in the US, how can Europe can keep pace with demand for recycled battery materials and ensure supply security in the long term?
Mina Ha, Recycling Research Lead at the London-based consulting and market research firm Rho Motion, presented a wide-ranging overview of the market situation. She stressed China's dominant role on the global recycling market. The country has the world’s largest share (75 per cent) of black mass – the intermediate product that is generated during the mechanical recycling step or pre-treatment of scrap batteries. And in the downstream refinery phase, where valuable metals are reclaimed from the black mass, China is one of the few countries that had established the infrastructure to process enormous volumes, Ms Ha stated.
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