Top 7 China Battery Recycling Companies 2025
China's battery recycling industry processed over 800,000 tonnes of end-of-life batteries in 2025, recovering critical minerals including 200,000 tonnes of lithium, cobalt, and nickel compounds. As the world's largest EV market with over 30 million EVs on the road, China faces an imminent battery retirement wave, with first-generation EV batteries (2015-2018) now entering end-of-life. The government mandates producer responsibility and has established a national battery traceability system.
TL;DR: China's battery recycling processes 800K tonnes/year recovering 200K tonnes of critical minerals. Brunp CATL subsidiary leads with 60%+ lithium recovery rate while GEM processes 100K+ tonnes annually with operations spanning cathode precursor manufacturing.
Top Companies
Brunp Recycling (邦普循环)
60%+ lithium recovery rateBrunp Recycling, a CATL subsidiary, is China's largest battery recycling company processing 300,000+ tonnes of spent batteries annually. Its closed-loop recycling system feeds recovered cathode materials back into CATL's battery production, achieving 60%+ lithium recovery and 98%+ cobalt/nickel recovery rates.
GEM (格林美)
100K+ tonnes processed/yearGEM is China's leading integrated battery recycling and cathode material company, operating multiple recycling facilities across China. It processes 100,000+ tonnes of spent batteries annually and manufactures cathode precursors (NCM, LCO) from recycled materials, supplying major battery makers including CATL and BYD.
Huayou Cobalt (华友钴业)
Closed-loop battery materialsHuayou Cobalt operates a closed-loop battery recycling system in Zhejiang province, recovering cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese from spent batteries to produce battery-grade precursor materials. Its recycling capacity exceeds 50,000 tonnes/year with plans to reach 200,000 tonnes by 2027.
Mercedes-Benz / CATL Joint Venture
German-Chinese recycling JVThe CATL-Mercedes-Benz battery recycling joint venture operates in China, combining CATL's hydrometallurgical recycling technology with Mercedes-Benz's battery supply chain expertise. The JV processes EV battery packs from Mercedes-Benz vehicles, recovering high-purity cathode materials for reuse in new batteries.
China Battery Recycling Alliance
National collection networkThe China Battery Recycling Alliance coordinates battery collection and recycling across 200+ member companies. It operates a national battery traceability platform tracking batteries from production through end-of-life, with a collection network covering 90%+ of Chinese cities.
Tianqi Lithium Recycling
Lithium-focused recoveryTianqi Lithium's recycling division specializes in lithium recovery from spent batteries, operating facilities in Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces. It uses advanced hydrometallurgical processes to recover battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, achieving 55%+ lithium recovery rates.
Xiangtan Electrochemical (湘潭电化)
Mn-based battery recyclingXiangtan Electrochemical focuses on recycling manganese-based batteries including LMO and LMFP chemistries. Its recycling process recovers electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) and manganese sulfate for reuse in new battery production, with 50,000+ tonnes annual processing capacity.
Comparison Table
| Company | Capacity (tonnes/year) | Key Recovery Metal | Recovery Rate | Business Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunp Recycling | 300,000+ | Li, Co, Ni | 60%+ Li / 98%+ Co/Ni | Closed-loop CATL |
| GEM | 100,000+ | Li, Co, Ni, Mn | 55%+ Li / 95%+ Co/Ni | Cathode precursor sales |
| Huayou Cobalt | 50,000+ | Co, Ni, Li | 55%+ Li / 97%+ Co/Ni | Closed-loop materials |
| Tianqi Lithium | 30,000+ | Lithium | 55%+ Li | Lithium chemicals |
| Xiangtan Electrochemical | 50,000+ | Manganese | 90%+ Mn | EMD production |
| CATL-MB JV | 20,000+ | Li, Co, Ni | Various | Automotive recycling |
| CBRA | Network | Various | Various | Collection platform |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many EV batteries will need recycling in China?
China's cumulative EV battery retirement is projected to reach 780,000 tonnes by 2025 and 3 million tonnes by 2030. First-generation EVs (2015-2018 models) are now entering retirement at scale, creating urgent recycling demand. The government estimates 1.2 million tonnes of spent batteries will need processing annually by 2028.
What is China's battery recycling regulation?
China implements extended producer responsibility (EPR) for batteries under the Measures for the Management of Recycling and Utilization of New Energy Vehicle Power Batteries. Battery manufacturers and EV makers must establish recycling networks, report recycling data to the national traceability platform, and meet minimum recycling efficiency standards (lithium recovery >35% rising to >50%). Violations face fines up to RMB 1 million.
How profitable is battery recycling in China?
Battery recycling profitability depends on metal prices and processing efficiency. At 2025 lithium prices (RMB 70-80K/tonne lithium carbonate), well-operated recyclers achieve 15-25% gross margins. Recovered metals (cobalt, nickel, lithium) generate RMB 20-30K per tonne of processed battery material, while processing costs are RMB 15-20K per tonne.