China’s First Batch of Imported Recycled Black Mass for Lithium-Ion Batteries Successfully Cleared Customs, Introduced by China Recycling!
On August 15, a shipment of 20 tons of recycled black mass for lithium-ion batteries, imported by Zihuan Green Investment International under China Recycling Development Corporation, arrived in Ningbo and successfully passed customs inspection. This marks the first batch of imported recycled black mass for lithium-ion batteries since the official implementation of the Announcement on Regulating the Import Management of Recycled Black Mass Raw Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries and Recycled Steel Raw Materials. It represents an important step forward in promoting the circular use of renewable resources.
To ensure that the safety and environmental indicators of imported recycled black mass meet relevant requirements, Zihuan Green Investment International conducted pre-inspections on key parameters, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, phosphorus, and water-soluble fluorine, in strict accordance with applicable standards.
Through prior research, the company identified that domestic recycling volumes of spent lithium-ion batteries remain limited and utilization rates are not high. Following the release of the new import regulation, the company quickly coordinated with upstream and downstream enterprises, logistics providers, and customs authorities at home and abroad, pioneering an import pathway for recycled black mass that integrates “international material procurement — cross-border logistics support — delivery to domestic customers.” This effort actively builds a multi-level, three-dimensional, and efficient system for resource recycling and reuse.
It is reported that on June 9, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the General Administration of Customs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, jointly issued the Announcement on Matters Concerning the Regulation of Imports of Recycled Black Mass for Lithium-ion Batteries and Recycled Steel Raw Materials, which came into effect on August 1. The announcement specifies that recycled black mass for lithium-ion batteries that meets requirements is not classified as solid waste and may be freely imported.
Black mass is a black or dark-gray powder obtained from lithium-ion battery waste through processes such as discharge, dismantling, pyrolysis, crushing, and separation. It contains valuable elements such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt at concentrations significantly higher than those in natural ores. The import of recycled black mass helps diversify supply channels, reduce over-reliance on and exploitation of virgin ores, and contributes to emission reduction, decarbonization, and ecological protection.
As a “national team” in the circular economy sector, China Recycling Development Corporation is accelerating its presence across recycling business segments for power batteries, non-ferrous metals, new energy devices, and electrical and electronic equipment. It is focused on strengthening collaboration across the industrial value chain, integrating resource collection, cascade utilization, dismantling, processing, and reuse. The company is rapidly building a nationwide and functional recycling and reuse platform to reduce dependence on virgin resources and promote the industry’s advancement toward higher-end, smarter, and greener development.
Since its establishment, Zihuan Green Investment International has focused on key areas such as biofuels, retired aircraft, recycled non-ferrous metals, and spent power batteries, while continuously expanding its overseas business. It is committed to building a comprehensive industrial ecosystem and a globalized operating platform. At present, the company has already launched cross-border businesses including the export of industrial-grade mixed oil (UCO) to Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia; the supply of biodiesel to Hong Kong; and the import of recycled copper from overseas, thereby delivering more high-quality recycled resources and products to society.
Source: China Recycling Development Corporation
