India restricts battery waste shipments to secure critical minerals

The government has prohibited the export of lithium-ion battery black mass with immediate effect, directing mineral-rich battery waste towards domestic recycling and processing facilities, the Department of Commerce said. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) announced the restriction, changing its export status from ‘Free’ to ‘Prohibited’. Black mass is produced by shredding used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing waste. It contains recoverable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are essential for battery manufacturing and electric vehicles. The decision follows concerns that domestic recyclers lack sufficient raw material despite having processing capacity, while some have had to import black mass. The restriction is expected to retain this material within India, support mineral recovery, and reduce dependence on overseas supplies.

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