EGA Aluminium Recycling Plant Moves Closer to Commissioning at Al Taweelah

EGA Aluminium Recycling Plant

The EGA aluminium recycling plant has reached a major construction milestone at Al Taweelah. Emirates Global Aluminium charged the melting furnace for the first time at its new recycling site. That step moves the project closer to final completion and commercial start-up. As a result, the EGA aluminium recycling plant is becoming a more important part of the UAE’s aluminium value chain.

This development matters because the facility will expand domestic recycling capacity at industrial scale. EGA expects the plant to be completed by the end of this quarter. Scrap sorting equipment commissioning already began in December last year. Meanwhile, work continues on the casting and homogenisation stations. Therefore, the Al Taweelah recycling facility is shifting from construction into final execution.

The project also supports a broader market trend toward lower-carbon aluminium supply. The plant will blend recycled and primary aluminium into low-carbon billets and T-bars. These products will be sold under the RevivAL brand. Consequently, EGA is positioning recycled content as a commercial and strategic advantage.

UAE Aluminium Recycling Capacity Is Entering a New Phase

UAE aluminium recycling is moving into a much larger industrial phase with this project. The new melting furnace has a capacity of 90,000 t/yr. The wider plant will produce 185,000 t/yr of billets and T-bars. That makes the project much more than a niche sustainability initiative.

Scale matters because regional scrap processing capacity remains limited compared with primary aluminium strength. EGA has long been associated with primary metal production. However, the new plant adds a downstream recycling layer that can improve raw material flexibility. As a result, the company can strengthen its position across both primary and secondary aluminium flows.

The project also has national significance. EGA said the facility will become the largest aluminium recycling plant in the UAE. It will also make the company the country’s largest scrap processor. Therefore, the plant may help create a more integrated domestic aluminium ecosystem with stronger circularity.

Low-Carbon Aluminium Billets Could Strengthen EGA’s Market Position

Low-carbon aluminium billets are becoming more important as buyers demand lower-emission metal solutions. Customers in construction, transport, and industrial manufacturing increasingly want products with stronger carbon credentials. EGA’s recycling project responds directly to that shift. Meanwhile, the inclusion of primary aluminium gives the company more control over consistency and specification.

This blended production model may also offer commercial flexibility. Pure scrap-based output can face limits in chemistry control and product range. By combining recycled and primary metal, EGA can target both sustainability and performance. Consequently, the plant could appeal to customers that want lower-carbon material without sacrificing technical requirements.

The timing is also notable for the wider aluminium market. Producers are under pressure to show credible decarbonisation pathways, not only long-term targets. New recycling assets offer one of the fastest ways to improve emissions intensity. Therefore, the EGA aluminium recycling plant could become a visible example of how Gulf aluminium producers adapt to changing market expectations.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project matters because it connects scale, recycling, and low-carbon product strategy in one asset. EGA is not just adding a furnace. It is building a stronger position in the future aluminium market, where recycled content and product quality will increasingly move together.

Solarcycle Georgia Recycling Plant Strengthens the US Solar Materials Loop

Solarcycle

The Solarcycle Georgia recycling plant marks an important step in building a domestic solar materials loop. Solarcycle has started operations at its new facility in Cedartown, Georgia. The site uses upgraded technology that more than doubles throughput versus earlier systems. As a result, the Solarcycle Georgia recycling plant could become a meaningful part of the US clean energy supply chain.

This project matters because solar waste is becoming a larger industrial issue. More end-of-life panels now need recovery rather than disposal. Solarcycle said the process diverts all material from landfill and recovers about 96pc of panel value. Therefore, the Solarcycle Georgia recycling plant is not just a waste solution. It is also a materials recovery platform.

The recovered materials also carry real industrial value. Silver, copper, aluminum, and glass are all embedded in used solar panels. These inputs matter for manufacturing economics and supply resilience. Consequently, solar panel recycling is becoming more relevant to both sustainability and domestic sourcing.

Solar Panel Recycling Is Moving Toward Industrial Scale

Solar panel recycling is shifting from niche activity toward industrial infrastructure. The Cedartown facility is already processing thousands of panels each week. Solarcycle expects that figure to rise to 1mn panels annually by the end of 2026. As a result, the company is building capacity for scale rather than demonstration.

Full capacity makes the project even more significant. The plant can process up to 5 GW per year of solar panels. That level of throughput places the facility among the more serious recycling assets in the US solar chain. Therefore, the Solarcycle Georgia recycling plant could influence how the market thinks about end-of-life solar economics.

The technology angle also matters. Higher throughput and full landfill diversion improve the commercial case for recycling. Better material recovery can support stronger margins and more stable downstream reuse. Meanwhile, it gives developers and manufacturers a clearer pathway for circularity.

Recycled Solar Glass Could Deepen US Solar Materials Capacity

Recycled solar glass is the next major part of Solarcycle’s strategy. The recycling facility sits next to the company’s planned solar glass manufacturing plant. That plant is expected to break ground in mid-2026 and begin producing glass in 2028. Consequently, Solarcycle is linking recycling directly to new manufacturing capacity.

This integrated model matters for the broader US solar sector. Domestic manufacturing has become more important as buyers seek local supply and policy support favors US production. Solarcycle said it has already secured customer commitments for more than 80pc of the future glass plant’s planned 5 GW capacity. Therefore, demand for recycled and US-made solar materials appears to be strengthening.

The business model also shows a wider industrial trend. Recycling is no longer just about compliance or waste reduction. It is becoming a feedstock strategy for new manufacturing. As a result, the Solarcycle Georgia recycling plant may prove more important as the front end of a circular materials chain than as a stand-alone recycling site.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project stands out because it connects recycling scale with future manufacturing capacity. Solarcycle is not simply collecting old panels. It is building a domestic solar materials loop that could matter more as US clean energy deployment accelerates.

HyProMag Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Plant Opens in Germany

HyProMag

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling has moved into commercial-scale production in Germany after the company opened a new recycling and manufacturing plant in Pforzheim. The facility strengthens Europe’s effort to build a circular rare earth magnet supply chain outside China.

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling will focus on neodymium-iron-boron magnets and alloys. The plant will start with 100 t/yr of production capacity, with plans to increase output to 350 t/yr.

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling is strategically important because NdFeB magnets are critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, electronics, defence systems and industrial motors. Europe needs more local magnet capacity as China continues to dominate rare earth processing and magnet production.

The plant is permitted for production of up to 750 t/yr. HyProMag and parent company Mkango Resources are evaluating a scale-up to that level over the next three years.

HPMS Technology Targets Magnet Scrap Recovery

The Pforzheim plant will use Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap technology, known as HPMS. The process was developed at the University of Birmingham and is designed to recover rare earth magnets from scrap streams more efficiently.

This technology matters because magnet recycling can reduce dependence on mined rare earth feedstock and conventional separation routes. It can also shorten supply chains by recovering material already embedded in end-of-life products and industrial scrap.

Recycled NdFeB magnets can support European manufacturers that need secure and traceable supply. Automotive, wind power, electronics and defence customers increasingly want material with clearer origin and lower supply-chain risk.

The initial 100 t/yr capacity is modest compared with China’s magnet industry. However, the strategic value lies in proving that commercial-scale recycling and magnet manufacturing can operate inside Europe.

The planned expansion to 350 t/yr, and potentially 750 t/yr, would make the site more meaningful for regional supply. It would also help Europe develop technical expertise in magnet scrap collection, processing, alloying and remanufacturing.

EU Critical Raw Materials Strategy Gains Recycling Base

HyProMag’s German plant fits directly into Europe’s critical raw materials strategy. The EU wants to reduce dependence on imported rare earth materials by supporting domestic mining, separation, recycling and manufacturing capacity.

Mkango Resources adds another layer to this strategy. The Canadian company owns a rare earths project in Malawi and a proposed rare earths separation plant in Poland.

Both projects have been selected as strategic projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. This gives Mkango a broader position across upstream rare earth resources, midstream separation and downstream magnet recycling.

The German plant therefore is not just a standalone recycling facility. It could become part of a wider European rare earth value chain connecting African feedstock, European separation and recycled magnet production.

For Europe, this model is important. Mining alone will not solve rare earth dependence if separation, metal making, alloying and magnet manufacturing remain concentrated elsewhere.

HyProMag’s Pforzheim facility helps address one of the most difficult parts of the chain: turning rare earth scrap into usable magnet products. If the company scales successfully, it could support a more resilient European magnet ecosystem.

The Metalnomist Commentary

HyProMag’s plant shows that Europe’s rare earth strategy is moving from policy ambition into industrial execution. The key test will be whether recycling capacity can scale fast enough to supply real magnet demand in EVs, wind power and defence.

Hubei STR anode recycling plant will start in March 2026 as China’s battery scrap accelerates

Lithium-Ion Battery

Hubei STR will start the Hubei STR anode recycling plant in March 2026. The project targets 50,000 t/yr of recycled anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The company began site construction in January 2022. As a result, the facility enters the market as battery recycling volumes rise sharply.

Battery scrap volumes will surge as China’s first NEV wave reaches end-of-life. Lithium-ion batteries usually retire when capacity falls to 80%. The US Advanced Battery Consortium links this threshold to an 8–12 year service life. Therefore, post-2025 retirements should expand the available feedstock for anode material recycling.

China’s EV scale is turning recycling into a supply chain priority

China’s EV scale is making the Hubei STR anode recycling plant strategically timed. China pushed NEV output above one million units in 2018. NEVs reached 40.9% of total auto sales in 2024. Meanwhile, October NEV sales hit 1.72mn units and took 51.6% market share.

Recycling capacity must follow that growth curve. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers forecasts NEV sales near 16mn units in 2025, up from 12.86mn in 2024. China Automotive Engineering Society estimates retired power batteries exceeded 580,000t in 2023. It expects retirements to reach 6mn t by 2030. Consequently, anode recycling becomes a cost, ESG, and security lever for battery makers.

Graphite recovery and copper foil separation define the value capture

Graphite recovery drives much of the anode recycling economics. The lithium-ion battery recycling process starts with dismantling and material separation. Recyclers can recover plastics and the diaphragm from anode-side components. They can also extract aluminium foil from cathode materials.

Graphite recovery then becomes the key upgrade step. Recyclers separate graphite from copper foil in spent anodes. They purify the graphite and sell it back into the battery materials chain. Therefore, the Hubei STR anode recycling plant can support a more circular anode supply. It can also reduce exposure to price swings in battery-grade inputs.

The Metalnomist Commentary

China’s recycling race is shifting from metals recovery to materials performance. Therefore, graphite purity and consistent output will decide who wins long-term contracts. However, recyclers must prove traceability and ESG compliance to unlock premium pricing.

Aurubis Richmond metals recycling plant boosts US strategic metals supply

Aurubis Richmond metals

The Aurubis Richmond metals recycling plant is ramping up operations in Georgia, strengthening US access to strategic metals. The Aurubis Richmond metals recycling plant will recover copper, nickel, tin and precious metals from complex scrap streams. As a result, the Aurubis Richmond metals recycling plant is becoming an important pillar for US data centres, energy infrastructure and defence supply chains.

Expansion of high-value metals recycling capacity in the US

Aurubis is investing around $800mn in the Richmond facility to process up to 180,000 t/yr of recycled material. The plant will treat printed circuit boards, copper cable and other complex scrap that traditionally flowed to overseas processors. Therefore, the site supports onshore refining of metal units that are essential for electronics and power systems. The company has also signalled an “expansion stage” from 2026, which should further increase throughput and product range. This expansion aligns with rising demand for low-carbon, circular metal supply in North America.

Supporting strategic metals demand from energy and tech

Aurubis expects the Georgia facility to help meet growing US demand for “strategic metals” across several high-growth sectors. Data centres require reliable copper, nickel and precious metal supply for servers, networking and cooling systems. Meanwhile, energy infrastructure and grid upgrades depend on copper-intensive equipment such as transformers and high-voltage cables. Defence and advanced technology applications also need secure access to high-purity metals with traceable provenance. By turning scrap into refined metal, Aurubis reduces import dependence while lowering the environmental footprint of these critical value chains.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Aurubis’ move in Georgia confirms that advanced metals recycling is now strategic infrastructure, not just a waste-management activity. The key question is how fast similar facilities can scale to keep pace with US electrification and data-centre growth. For miners and refiners alike, the circular economy is no longer optional; it is becoming a core competitive advantage.

Geomega to Complete Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Plant in Quebec

Geomega Resources

Advancing Sustainable Rare Earth Supply Through Recycling

Geomega Resources is on track to complete its rare earth magnet recycling plant in Quebec by the end of 2025. The Canadian rare earth elements (REEs) technology provider aims to produce recycled rare earth oxides from a variety of waste feedstocks, including neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, bauxite residue, and sulphide tailings. This initiative supports the growing demand for sustainable and secure rare earth supply chains.

Construction of the demonstration plant began in February 2024, with an expected timeline of two years. Originally, the project was scheduled for completion within six months after securing $1.2mn in a 2019 private placement. However, delays extended the timeline, partly due to permitting and development challenges. Geomega has already submitted its environmental permit request and awaits regulatory approval to proceed with commissioning after construction.

In 2019, chief executive Kiril Mugerman estimated operating costs at $3/kg for rare earths, with capital expenditure of $2.6mn to process 1.5 tonnes per day of magnet waste. Once operational, the facility is expected to contribute meaningfully to the recycling of critical materials, reducing dependence on primary mining and addressing environmental concerns related to waste disposal.

Strengthening the North American Rare Earth Ecosystem

The Quebec recycling plant aligns with broader North American efforts to secure rare earth supply chains amid global market concentration. By converting industrial waste into high-purity rare earth oxides, Geomega can help diversify sourcing away from dominant producers and improve regional self-sufficiency. This capability is increasingly vital as industries such as electric vehicles, wind energy, and electronics require stable and sustainable REE supplies.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Geomega’s Quebec project represents a critical step toward a circular economy for rare earths in North America. By recycling high-value magnets and other waste sources, the company not only reduces environmental impacts but also enhances supply chain resilience. If successful, this facility could become a model for scaling rare earth recycling across the region.

Cyclic US REE Recycling Expansion Deepens North American Magnet Supply Ambitions

Cyclic

Cyclic US REE recycling expansion is accelerating as the company moves to build a second US facility in South Carolina. The new McBee site will process 600 metric tonnes per year of mixed rare-earth oxides, with expansion planned to 1,800 t/yr. Operations are expected to begin in 2028. As a result, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion is becoming a more serious part of the North American magnet supply chain.

This project matters because rare earth recycling is moving from pilot scale toward industrial relevance. Cyclic is investing more than $82mn in the McBee facility. The company is also building on a larger spoke-hub strategy rather than a single isolated plant. Therefore, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion reflects a broader effort to localize critical rare earth processing in North America.

The location also adds strategic value. McBee sits close to Vacuumschmelze’s magnet manufacturing site in Sumter, South Carolina. Cyclic already has a 10-year exclusive agreement with VAC to recycle magnet production byproducts. Consequently, the new plant links recycling capacity directly to downstream magnet manufacturing demand.

North American Rare Earth Recycling Is Moving Toward Industrial Scale

North American rare earth recycling is gaining more industrial depth through this investment. Cyclic said the McBee facility will operate as a combined spoke-and-hub. It will also become the company’s largest hub to date. That means the project is designed for system scale, not just regional collection.

The company is also supporting this buildout with stronger capital backing. Cyclic recently closed a $75mn equity funding round, bringing total equity funding above $162mn. That financial support gives the company more room to scale processing infrastructure. As a result, North American rare earth recycling is attracting more serious investor confidence.

The broader network already shows how this model is developing. Cyclic operates its first hub in Ontario and has invested in a large Arizona facility for end-of-life rare-earth permanent magnets. These sites support a cross-border recycling chain rather than a single-country model. Therefore, the company is positioning itself as a multi-node recycler in a strategically sensitive market.

Magnet Recycling Supply Chain Gains a Stronger US Processing Base

The magnet recycling supply chain stands to benefit most from the McBee project. The facility will process mixed rare-earth oxides, which are critical intermediate materials in the rare earth value chain. Stronger domestic processing capacity can reduce dependence on longer and more fragile overseas routes. Consequently, the new site could improve both resilience and lead times.

The VAC relationship makes that especially important. Recycling magnet production byproducts creates a more closed-loop industrial model. That can improve feedstock security while supporting lower-waste manufacturing. Meanwhile, it gives Cyclic a direct commercial pathway rather than relying only on spot material flows.

The international dimension also remains important. Cyclic already has an agreement to supply Solvay’s La Rochelle plant for further separation and purification from its Ontario hub output. That means the company is building a chain that connects North American recycling with allied refining capacity. Therefore, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion supports both regional resilience and transatlantic processing cooperation.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project matters because rare earth strategy now depends as much on recycling systems as on mining. Cyclic is building a supply chain model that connects scrap, oxides, and magnets more directly. If McBee ramps successfully, it could become a meaningful benchmark for western rare earth circularity.

Belfast Magnet Recycling Grant Strengthens the UK Rare Earth Supply Chain

IonicRE

The Belfast magnet recycling grant gives the UK a stronger position in the rare earth supply chain. Ionic Technologies will receive £12mn from the UK government for a commercial magnet recycling facility in Belfast. The plant will produce high-purity separated magnet rare earth oxides. As a result, the Belfast magnet recycling grant supports both industrial policy and strategic materials security.

This project matters because rare earth recycling is becoming more important in western supply chains. Governments want more local processing capacity for magnet materials. They also want lower dependence on imported rare earth products. Therefore, the Belfast magnet recycling grant reflects a wider push for resilient critical minerals infrastructure.

The planned facility will have capacity of 400 t/yr of separated magnet rare earth oxides. Product purity is expected to exceed 99.5pc. Ionic Technologies will use its long-loop recycling process at the site. Consequently, the project is positioned as a commercial recycling platform, not a pilot concept.

UK Rare Earth Supply Chain Gains a New Industrial Anchor

The UK rare earth supply chain has lacked enough domestic downstream processing capacity. This grant helps address that gap with targeted capital support. IonicRE said the funding will serve as a cornerstone of the project’s investment structure. Therefore, the government is helping reduce financing risk at a critical stage.

The policy context also matters. The grant comes through the UK’s Drive35 programme. That programme supports industrialisation linked to zero-emission vehicle technologies. As a result, the Belfast plant is tied not only to recycling, but also to future transport manufacturing needs.

This alignment could improve long-term project relevance. Magnet rare earth oxides are essential for advanced motors and electrified systems. Stronger domestic recycling can support cleaner industrial growth. Meanwhile, it can reduce exposure to volatile external supply chains.

Rare Earth Recycling Facility Fits a Wider Western Funding Trend

This rare earth recycling facility also fits a broader western investment pattern. IonicRE has already moved to develop vertically integrated rare earth oxide recycling in Missouri. That shows the company is building across more than one jurisdiction. Consequently, Belfast may become part of a larger transatlantic recycling strategy.

The market significance extends beyond its initial size. A 400 t/yr facility will not transform global rare earth balances alone. However, it can prove commercial viability and support regional supply security. Therefore, smaller strategic plants can still matter greatly in critical materials markets.

The Belfast magnet recycling grant also signals a policy shift in how governments support rare earth projects. Instead of focusing only on mining, they are backing recycling and downstream processing. That approach may create faster, more practical gains in supply chain resilience. As a result, recycling is becoming a serious industrial policy tool.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This grant is important because it supports processing capability, not just raw material ambition. The UK is backing a practical route into rare earth security through recycling and purification. If Belfast succeeds, it could become a model for how smaller western projects build strategic value.

Mercedes-Benz Opens Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

Battery Recycling Plant

Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated its advanced lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, marking a significant step in its mission to establish a closed-loop system for critical minerals essential for electric vehicle (EV) production.

The new plant aims to process 2,500 metric tonnes per year of active and inactive materials from shredded battery modules. The active material, known as black mass, contains high-value critical minerals such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt. These will be refined and reused to produce over 50,000 battery modules annually for Mercedes-Benz's EV lineup.

Innovative Recycling Process

The facility utilizes a cutting-edge mechanical-hydrometallurgical process, which Mercedes-Benz claims can recover more than 96% of battery-grade critical minerals from spent lithium-ion batteries. The mechanical phase sorts and separates inactive materials like plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. Meanwhile, the hydrometallurgical phase processes the black mass to extract critical minerals for reuse in battery production.

Sustainable Operations

Mercedes-Benz's Kuppenheim facility is powered entirely by green electricity, incorporating a photovoltaic system with a peak output of over 350 kilowatts. This aligns with the company's broader commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

Technology Partnership with Primobius

The plant was developed in collaboration with Primobius, a joint venture between Australian process technology innovator Neometals and German engineering firm SMS. Mercedes-Benz's subsidiary Licular spearheaded the project, leveraging Primobius' expertise to implement cutting-edge recycling technologies.

Future Expansion Potential

While the Kuppenheim plant represents a significant milestone, Mercedes-Benz is cautious about scaling operations further. A spokesperson highlighted that production volumes could expand in the "medium to long term," contingent on insights gained from the facility’s initial operations.

This recycling initiative underscores Mercedes-Benz's dedication to creating a sustainable supply chain for critical minerals, enhancing EV production, and reducing environmental impact.

Toyota Launches UK Battery Recycling Plant to Advance Circular Economy Goals

Toyota, UK Battery Recycling

Burnaston Facility Will Recover Key EV Battery Materials and Support EU Carbon Neutrality Targets

Toyota Builds First Circular Factory in the UK

Toyota has announced plans to open a new battery recycling plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, UK. The site will process end-of-life electric vehicles and recover critical battery materials such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite. This project marks the automaker’s first “Toyota Circular Factory,” aimed at promoting material reuse and sustainability.

The new facility, built on the grounds of Toyota’s existing Corolla production plant, will process up to 10,000 vehicles annually during its initial phase. In addition to batteries, the factory will recycle other vehicle parts to minimize waste and environmental impact.

Expansion Across Europe and Net-Zero Ambitions

Toyota Motor Europe’s Vice President of Circular Economy, Leon van der Merwe, confirmed that the UK facility is just the beginning. “As a next step for the Toyota Circular Factory concept, we plan to roll out similar operations across Europe,” he said. He also stressed the company's openness to collaborating with other organizations focused on circularity and carbon neutrality.

The initiative aligns with Toyota’s broader sustainability commitments. The company aims to achieve full carbon neutrality across all operations by 2040 and reduce vehicle carbon emissions in Europe by 100% by 2035. This recycling plant will play a crucial role in achieving these targets by closing the loop on electric vehicle battery materials.

Glencore Aluminum Recycling Stake Expands South Carolina Remelting Footprint

Aluminum Scrap

Glencore aluminum recycling exposure has expanded after the global commodities trading group acquired a 45% stake in a planned South Carolina aluminum facility. Alumicore will operate the plant and retain the remaining 55% interest.

The investment builds on Glencore’s earlier financial support for the recycling and remelting project. Those earlier investments were aimed at securing marketing rights for the plant’s future production.

Glencore aluminum recycling growth reflects rising interest in secondary aluminum supply in the US. Recycled aluminum can reduce energy intensity, support lower-carbon material demand, and improve feedstock optionality for manufacturers exposed to volatile primary aluminum markets.

Alumicore Platform Adds Recycling and Remelting Scale

The South Carolina site will become part of Alumicore’s wider recycling network. Glencore said the new plant, together with Alumicore’s operations in Monessen and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will lift the company’s total recycling capacity to more than 120,000 t/yr.

Few details were disclosed about the planned facility near Charleston. However, the project appears focused on recycling and remelting, which are increasingly important parts of the North American aluminum value chain.

Aluminum remelting capacity gives processors a route to convert scrap into reusable material for downstream manufacturing. This is strategically relevant as automotive, packaging, construction, electrical and industrial customers look for lower-carbon aluminum inputs.

The marketing-rights element is also important. Glencore is not only taking an equity position; it is strengthening access to future metal flows from the facility. That fits the trading house’s broader strategy of combining physical assets, offtake control and scrap supply channels.

Charleston Area Becomes a Secondary Aluminum Growth Point

The deal also deepens Glencore’s footprint in South Carolina. The company previously entered a joint venture with nonferrous scrap recycler Zeb Metals in 2023 to develop an aluminum scrap and dross recycling operation around Charleston.

That earlier project and the Alumicore investment point to a regional strategy. Charleston offers logistics advantages, industrial demand access and a potential platform for collecting, processing and marketing secondary aluminum products.

Aluminum dross and scrap recycling are becoming more valuable as producers and traders try to capture more metal units from waste streams. Better recovery can reduce reliance on primary aluminum and support circular supply for domestic manufacturers.

For Glencore, the South Carolina investment strengthens its position in a market where recycled metal is becoming more strategic. For Alumicore, Glencore’s stake adds a global marketing partner with deep metals trading and supply-chain reach.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Glencore’s investment shows that aluminum recycling is becoming a strategic materials business, not only a scrap trade. Control over remelting capacity, dross recovery and marketing rights will matter more as customers seek lower-carbon aluminum supply.

Livium LGES battery recycling deal extends Australia’s circular battery value chain

Livium

The Livium LGES battery recycling deal is expanding Australia’s role in the circular battery economy and black mass supply. Under the renewed Livium LGES battery recycling deal, Livium will process both recalled and end-of-life residential batteries. As a result, the Livium LGES battery recycling deal now runs to 2029 and anchors new growth in Australian black mass output.

Black mass volumes rise as Livium expands feedstock

Livium will continue processing LG Energy Solution batteries recalled in Australia and now add end-of-life units from local users. This expanded access to feedstock should increase black mass volumes and stabilise plant utilisation over the medium term.

The recycler sold over 350t of black mass in the 2024-25 financial year to 30 June. Therefore, management expects higher sales in 2025-26 as the Livium LGES battery recycling deal ramps up. Livium channels this black mass to processing partners such as South Korea’s SungEel Hitech. These partners convert black mass into battery chemicals, which return to global cathode and cell producers.

Meanwhile, LGES is building a 20,000 t/yr battery recycling plant in France with Derichebourg. That European joint venture will also produce and process black mass from end-of-life batteries from 2027. Together, these initiatives show how LGES is building regional recycling hubs to secure critical materials.

Livium LGES battery recycling deal supports lithium recovery innovation

The Livium LGES battery recycling deal also complements Livium’s work on recovering lithium from spodumene waste. Livium signed an agreement with Australian producer Mineral Resources in January to optimise this extraction technology. As a result, the partners formed a joint venture in August to commercialise the process at scale.

This positions Livium not only as a black mass producer but also as a technology player in lithium recovery. For LGES, the partnership reduces long-term exposure to mined feedstock volatility and environmental scrutiny. It also aligns with automakers’ and battery producers’ ESG targets on recycling and resource efficiency.

In strategic terms, expanding the Livium LGES battery recycling deal strengthens regional supply security for nickel, cobalt and lithium units locked in black mass. It also supports Australia’s ambition to move up the value chain from raw material supplier to processing and technology hub.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership illustrates how structured offtake agreements can accelerate the build-out of regional battery recycling ecosystems. For metals markets, increasing black mass flows from deals like this will gradually reshape demand for primary material and reward recyclers with robust technology and downstream access.

Hydrovolt to Establish Battery Recycling Plant in France

Hydrovolt, headquartered in Oslo, has greenlit the establishment of a new battery recycling plant in Hordain, northern France, targeting a 2025 operational launch. This project is a collaboration between Norway's Hydro and Swedish battery producer Northvolt. The initial phase will involve a discharge and dismantling (D&D) site, with modules being crushed at their Fredrikstad facility. The scalable project aims for an annual capacity of several thousand tonnes, contingent on final permits.

The chosen 3,000-square-meter site in Hordain is strategically located near northern France’s burgeoning battery industry, which includes four major gigafactory investments. Leveraging the technology and processes from Hydrovolt's Fredrikstad plant, which started commercial production in May 2022 and has a capacity of 12,000 tonnes per year, the new plant is set to enhance Hydrovolt’s recycling capabilities.

Hydrovolt's long-term vision includes recycling approximately 300,000 tonnes of battery packs annually by 2030, equivalent to about 500,000 EV batteries. This expansion aligns with the increasing demand for sustainable battery recycling solutions in Europe.

Cyclic VAC US magnet recycling partnership boosts North American circularity

Cyclic Materials

The Cyclic VAC US magnet recycling partnership marks a major step toward a circular rare earth magnet supply chain in North America. Under a new 10-year exclusive deal, Cyclic Materials will recycle swarf from VAC’s Sumter, South Carolina magnet plant. As a result, the Cyclic VAC US magnet recycling partnership links cutting-edge US magnet manufacturing with low-carbon, recycling-based feedstock.

Building a circular rare earth magnet supply in the US

The Cyclic VAC US magnet recycling partnership will capture byproducts from VAC’s US production lines. VAC produces neodymium-iron-boron magnets for automotive, defense, industrial and renewable energy uses. Meanwhile, the Sumter facility will anchor long-term supply for General Motors’ EV platforms under a decade-long agreement.

Cyclic will process the swarf into recycled rare earth raw materials with a reported 75pc lower carbon footprint than mined material. In parallel, Cyclic plans to invest over $20mn in a Mesa, Arizona plant. That facility is designed to process 25,000 t/yr of end-of-life magnet components from early 2026. Together, these projects push US magnet recycling beyond pilots and into industrial scale.

VAC’s US growth links primary offtake and recycling loops

VAC’s US expansion combines primary offtake, federal funding and recycling partnerships into one integrated ecosystem. E-VAC, VAC’s US subsidiary, has secured more than $200mn from the US Defense and Energy departments. These funds support the Sumter plant, which will ramp magnet output through the decade.

At the same time, VAC signed an offtake agreement with Pensana for mixed rare earth carbonate from Angola’s Longonjo project. That deal will support eVAC’s magnet output rising from 2,000 t/yr to 12,000 t/yr by 2029. The Cyclic VAC US magnet recycling partnership adds a second feedstock leg, closing material loops around swarf and, in time, end-of-life magnets. Therefore, VAC’s model blends upstream mining offtake with downstream recycling to reduce dependence on Chinese supply.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership shows how serious US and allied players have become about mine-to-magnet-to-recycle value chains. If Cyclic can scale its Arizona facility as planned, swarf and scrap could evolve from waste streams into strategic feedstock. For OEMs like GM, a resilient US magnet base that mixes primary and recycled material will be central to long-term EV and defense planning.

Novelis commissions bag houses at UK plant to double UBC recycling capacity

Novelis

Novelis commissions bag houses at UK plant to unlock its next recycling expansion step. Novelis commissions bag houses at UK plant in Latchford, England, as it prepares to double used beverage can processing. The move strengthens emissions control while the site upgrades core recycling equipment.

Novelis commissioned three new bag houses as part of a wider $90mn investment program. The project also adds a new dross house and technology upgrades across shredding and sorting. Meanwhile, the site improves de-coating and melting to lift throughput and metal recovery.

Novelis commissions bag houses at UK plant ahead of a tighter UK circularity policy cycle. The country will enforce a deposit return scheme for single-use drink containers from October 2027. As a result, UBC collection volumes should become more predictable for domestic recyclers.

What the $90mn Latchford expansion adds to recycling capacity

The Latchford facility already runs at 195,000 t/yr and handles both UBC and automotive-grade scrap. The expansion adds 85,000 t/yr of additional recycling capacity once fully ramped. Therefore, the plant can raise output without relying on primary aluminium growth.

Bag houses matter because they support cleaner, more stable operations at higher load. Better dust capture reduces downtime risk during shredding and melting. However, the real value comes from pairing emissions control with higher-capacity front-end processing.

Why the UK deposit return scheme changes the UBC economics

Deposit systems typically improve can return rates and cut contamination. Cleaner UBC feed reduces sorting loss and improves melt yield. As a result, recyclers can produce tighter spec recycled aluminium for rolling mills.

DRS timing also shapes investment sequencing for Novelis and its peers. The company moved early versus its original December 2026 commissioning target. Meanwhile, early readiness can help secure supply contracts as competition for UBC tightens.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This expansion signals a shift from “capacity announcements” to operational readiness. However, the margin upside depends on UBC quality and energy costs through 2027. The best-positioned rollers will lock in feedstock and optimize melt yield.

ACE Green Recycling to Expand LFP Battery Recycling Capacity in India

ACE Green Recycling

ACE Green Recycling, a US-based battery recycling company, has announced plans to significantly expand its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery recycling capacity in India. The company aims to increase its recycling capacity to 10,000 tonnes per year by 2026.

Expansion Details and Location

The expanded facility will be located near the port of Mundra in northwest India, building upon ACE's existing operations in the country. The strategic location near the port is expected to optimize the transportation of both feedstock and offtake products, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Technology and Recovery Rates

ACE Green Recycling claims its proprietary technology can recover lithium from LFP batteries at levels of around 75%, producing lithium carbonate with a purity exceeding 99%.  In addition to lithium, the technology can also recover other valuable materials, including graphite, iron phosphate, steel, and copper. This comprehensive recovery process maximizes resource utilization and minimizes waste.

Market Outlook and Future Plans

ACE's chief executive officer, Nishchay Chadha, highlighted the expected dominance of LFP batteries in the lithium battery market by 2030, stating that the company is strategically scaling its LFP battery recycling capacity to meet the anticipated demand and support its growing customer base.  This expansion in India is a key part of ACE's broader growth strategy.

ACE also has plans to launch another LFP battery recycling plant in Texas, USA, in the second half of 2026. This plant is projected to have a processing capacity of 5,000 tonnes per year of scrap batteries.  In 2022, ACE signed a 15-year supply agreement with Switzerland-based Glencore for all recycled products from four of ACE's planned lead-acid battery and lithium-ion battery recycling facilities in the US, India, and Thailand, demonstrating strong market demand for recycled battery materials.

Vulcan US magnet plant signals new era for recycled rare earth magnets

Vulcan Elements

The Vulcan US magnet plant will anchor a new recycled rare earth magnet supply chain in North America. The project targets 10,000 metric tonnes per year of magnet production, focused on recycling magnets and electronic waste. As a result, the Vulcan US magnet plant directly supports US reshoring efforts in rare earth magnets for defence and clean energy.

Vulcan US magnet plant built on public–private financing

The Vulcan US magnet plant will rely on a blended finance structure combining US government and private capital. Vulcan secured a $620mn direct loan from the Department of Defense and $50mn in equity from the US Department of Commerce, alongside $550mn in private funding. This mix underlines Washington’s view of rare earth magnets as critical defence infrastructure rather than a pure commodity business.

Vulcan’s structure also gives federal agencies upside exposure. The Defense Department will receive warrants in both Vulcan and its processing partner ReElement Technologies, while Commerce takes a direct equity stake in Vulcan. Therefore the capital stack aligns national security objectives with commercial returns, a pattern increasingly common across US critical minerals projects.

Recycling and diversified feedstock at the heart of the model

Vulcan partners with ReElement Technologies to convert end-of-life magnets, electronic waste and mined concentrates into high-purity rare earth oxides. This model leans on urban mining and recycling to reduce dependence on imported primary rare earths. In parallel, supply agreements with Energy Fuels and ReElement provide neodymium-praseodymium and dysprosium oxides, plus broader light and heavy rare earth oxides.

The plant’s design aims squarely at high-performance permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence platforms. By combining recycled material with mined concentrates, the project improves resilience against export controls and price volatility. If the Vulcan US magnet plant ramps as planned, it could become a key node in a closed-loop rare earth ecosystem in the US.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Vulcan’s entry shows how the magnet segment is becoming the strategic front line of rare earth industrial policy. Government-backed recycling-centric capacity may set a benchmark for future US projects, especially as defence supply chain audits tighten. The real test will be scaling efficiently while meeting strict magnet performance specs for automotive and defence customers.

Japan Tungsten Plant to Cut Sumitomo Electric’s Reliance on China

Sumitomo Electric

Japan tungsten plant investment by Sumitomo Electric Industries will expand domestic tungsten powder capacity and strengthen Japan’s critical mineral supply chain. The company plans to build a new facility in Toyama city with about ¥15.9bn, or $100mn, in investment.

The new plant will be operated by group company Allied Material and is scheduled to start operations in the first half of fiscal 2028. Sumitomo Electric said the project will expand its tungsten supply capacity by around 50%.

Japan tungsten plant development matters because tungsten is essential for cemented carbide cutting tools, semiconductors, electronic components and advanced industrial manufacturing. The investment also reflects Tokyo’s wider effort to reduce exposure to China-dominated critical material supply chains.

Tungsten Powder Capacity Supports High-End Manufacturing

The Toyama facility will expand production capacity for tungsten powder near Sumitomo Electric’s existing plant. The company has not yet disclosed the precise capacity of the new line.

Tungsten powder is a key input for cemented carbide tools used in metal cutting and precision machining. These tools support automotive, aerospace, electronics, machinery and industrial equipment production.

The material also has strategic relevance in semiconductors and electronic components. This makes tungsten more than a tooling metal; it is part of the materials base behind advanced manufacturing and technology supply chains.

Japan Backs Domestic Recycling and Supply Security

The Japanese government will cover about ¥7.5bn of the investment through a subsidy aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains. This public support shows that tungsten is now treated as a strategic industrial material.

Global tungsten supply remains heavily dependent on China. Sumitomo Electric said it currently relies on China for about 30% of its tungsten imports.

The new Japan tungsten plant will help the company strengthen its domestic recycling system and gradually reduce that dependence. Recycling will be especially important because secondary tungsten can improve supply resilience without relying only on new mined material.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Sumitomo Electric’s investment shows that tungsten security is becoming a manufacturing competitiveness issue. Japan is not only adding capacity; it is building a recycling-backed buffer for cutting tools, semiconductors and advanced components.

Molymet Maritime House Rhenium Recycling JV Targets Aerospace Supply Growth

Molymet

The rhenium recycling JV between Molymet and Maritime House signals a strategic response to tightening aerospace material demand. The two companies signed an MoU for a planned 50:50 partnership focused on recycling rhenium-bearing materials. The JV aims to produce ammonium perrhenate, rhenium metal, pellets, and powder. As a result, the rhenium recycling JV could strengthen western supply security in a market under growing pressure.

This move matters because rhenium remains one of the most critical specialty metals in aerospace alloys. The metal is not replaceable in several nickel-based superalloys used for turbine blades. Demand from western aerospace manufacturers remains firm, while Chinese import demand for ammonium perrhenate is also supporting the market. Therefore, the rhenium recycling JV enters the market at a time of elevated strategic importance.

The structure of the plan also reflects practical execution. The partners intend to use existing facilities in Chile or Canada first. They will later assess whether a dedicated North American processing plant is commercially justified. Consequently, the rhenium recycling JV begins with flexibility while preserving a pathway to larger regional capacity.

Aerospace Rhenium Demand Is Raising the Value of Recycling

Aerospace rhenium demand is making recycling more important than ever. Engine makers continue to require high-performance superalloys for aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. That keeps demand resilient even when broader industrial markets weaken. Meanwhile, rhenium prices have reached their highest levels in more than a decade.

That price environment is increasing the value of recycled feedstocks. Rhenium-bearing materials include nickel-based superalloy scrap and binary alloy scrap. These streams offer an alternative source of metal in a market where primary supply remains limited. Therefore, recycling is becoming a more strategic pillar rather than a secondary source.

Molymet and Maritime House also bring strong positioning to this effort. Molymet is the world’s largest primary rhenium producer. Maritime House is the world’s largest recycler of rhenium-containing materials. As a result, the partnership combines primary market scale with recycling expertise in a way few competitors can match.

Ammonium Perrhenate Supply Could Gain a Stronger North American Base

Ammonium perrhenate supply is one of the most important commercial outcomes of this partnership. APR is a critical intermediate product in the rhenium value chain. A more reliable recycled APR stream could support aerospace customers facing tighter procurement conditions. Consequently, the JV could improve both supply diversity and supply resilience.

The North American angle also deserves attention. The partners said they may evaluate a new regional processing facility if feed volumes exceed existing capacity. That would align with broader efforts to localize strategic material processing closer to end users. Therefore, the rhenium recycling JV could evolve from a recycling agreement into a more significant North American supply platform.

The decision to work with original equipment manufacturers also adds commercial depth. The JV plans to offer both recycling and primary supply solutions. That model could make procurement easier for aerospace customers seeking closed-loop or dual-source strategies. As a result, the partnership may gain relevance beyond simple metal conversion.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This deal stands out because it links recycling, primary production, and aerospace demand in one strategic framework. Rhenium remains a small-volume metal, but it carries outsized importance in high-performance superalloys. If this JV scales successfully, it could become one of the more important specialty metals partnerships in the western aerospace supply chain.

EGA Leichtmetall Recycling Expansion Signals a Bigger Bet on European Secondary Aluminium

EGA, Recycling Plant

EGA Leichtmetall recycling expansion will lift the Hanover site into a new scale tier. The project will multiply capacity and deepen access to post-consumer aluminium scrap. EGA Leichtmetall recycling expansion also reflects a strategic shift toward recycling-led growth. Therefore, EGA positions itself closer to end markets and circular supply chains.

The Hanover facility currently melts and casts about 30,000 tonnes per year. The new plan adds 110,000 tonnes per year of scrap sorting capacity. It also adds 153,000 tonnes per year of melting and casting capacity. As a result, the plant can upgrade feedstock flexibility and expand secondary aluminium output.

X-ray and laser sorting targets higher-quality recycled aluminium

Advanced scrap sorting matters when recyclers chase tighter chemistry limits. X-ray and laser systems can separate alloys with higher precision. However, post-consumer aluminium scrap arrives with mixed grades and contaminants. Therefore, better sorting protects metal yields and finished product consistency.

The expansion aims to produce high-quality aluminium from post-consumer streams. That capability can support automotive, packaging, and general engineering customers. Meanwhile, EU policy pressure continues to favor recycled content and lower embedded carbon. As a result, premium secondary metal can win share over primary in selected applications.

EGA’s global recycling footprint expands alongside US growth plans

This move fits EGA’s acquisitive strategy in foreign markets. EGA acquired Leichtmetall last year as an entry point into European recycling. Meanwhile, EGA also increased its exposure to US secondary aluminium after buying into Spectro Alloys. Therefore, EGA can balance regional scrap markets and customer demand cycles.

EGA has already announced expansions at Spectro Alloys to lift total capacity above 200,000 tonnes per year. The group also signaled long-term interest in US primary capacity and broader upstream options. However, recycling assets deliver faster carbon and market proximity benefits. As a result, projects like Hanover can become the core growth engine through 2028.

The Metalnomist Commentary

EGA is building a two-speed aluminium strategy that pairs scale with circularity. However, execution will hinge on scrap sourcing and product qualification with demanding customers. The winners will be the recyclers who convert mixed scrap into consistent alloys at industrial scale.