Ronbay Begins High-Nickel NCM Precursor Shipments from South Korea

Ronbay

Strategic Expansion into Global Supply Chains

Chinese battery material giant Ningbo Ronbay has started shipping ultra-high nickel NCM precursors from its Chungju, South Korea plant. The product contains a minimum of 90pc nickel and targets global battery makers. Current NCM precursor capacity totals 66,000 t/yr — 60,000 t/yr in China and 6,000 t/yr in South Korea.

South Korea’s extensive free trade agreements offer Ronbay significant advantages in bypassing rising trade barriers. The company expects these shipments to strengthen ties with clients in Japan, South Korea, Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, especially amid the US Inflation Reduction Act and EU Critical Material Act.

Capacity Growth and Recycling Initiatives

Ronbay plans to expand South Korean NCM capacity to 26,000 t/yr and build a 20,000 t/yr plant in Indonesia by 2026. Competitors CNGR, Huayou Cobalt, and GEM are also investing in precursor facilities overseas to mitigate trade restrictions.

The company will launch a global battery recycling system in 2027, with plants in the US, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. This network will process black powder from waste batteries into high-purity precursor materials, though capacity figures remain undisclosed.

Ronbay produced 137,351 t of CAM in 2024, up 34pc year-on-year. NCM accounted for around 120,000 t of sales, while LMFP was added to its portfolio in 2022 through the acquisition of Tianjin Skylandone. The firm targets 130,000–150,000 t of CAM production in 2025, and is building a 20,000 t/yr NCM plant in Poland, with the first phase due this year.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Ronbay’s move to produce high-nickel NCM precursors in South Korea is a calculated response to geopolitical trade pressures. By leveraging South Korea’s trade agreements and diversifying production locations, the firm is securing market access in key EV regions. This multi-pronged strategy — combining capacity expansion with recycling — positions Ronbay strongly in the global energy transition supply chain.