Description
Visiongain has published a new report, Battery Recycling & Second-Life Battery Market Report 2026-2036, providing a comprehensive analysis of the global EV battery recycling and second-life market, including market size, growth drivers, competitive positioning, and revenue forecasts across business model, recycling process, battery chemistry, battery source, and recovered material segments.
The global EV battery recycling and second-life market is valued at US$10.58 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach US$62.24 billion by 2036, at a CAGR of 19.4% over the forecast period, accelerating to a 21.7% CAGR between 2026 and 2031 as gigafactory scrap recovery and black mass refining capacity scale up.
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- Market forecasts and segment breakdowns
- Competitive and company-level insights
- Key trends shaping the market
- Trade, policy, and supply chain analysis
Technological Innovation Driving Market Expansion
The technological development of battery recycling is increasingly centred on achieving higher recovery rates, higher material purity, lower energy consumption, and greater compatibility with multiple battery chemistries. Hydrometallurgy has become one of the leading commercial routes for recovering battery-grade materials from black mass. Its advantage is the ability to separate individual metals and produce chemical products that can be fed directly into cathode-material manufacturing.
Fortum’s NEXT HYDROMET project demonstrates where the technology is heading. Its planned process combines hydrometallurgical recovery with chromatographic separation and on-site electrochemical production of process chemicals, targeting more than 95% recovery of battery metals with lower chemical consumption and lower emissions. Direct recycling represents the second major innovation pathway, preserving the value embedded in the cathode crystal structure rather than reducing material to elemental or salt forms, which can shorten the material loop and reduce energy requirements for new cathode active material production.
CATL’s circular battery strategy illustrates the commercial application of closed-loop material use. CATL reported that Brunp processed 210,000 tonnes of end-of-life batteries in 2025 and returned approximately 80% of recovered materials directly into CATL battery production. Li-Cycle’s Spoke and Hub model demonstrates another pathway, using distributed shredding facilities close to feedstock sources to produce black mass for centralised hydrometallurgical processing, with Generation 3 Spokes designed to process full battery packs without conventional discharging and dismantling.
Trade & Supply Chain Dynamics
- Battery recycling is becoming a core component of national critical-mineral strategies because recycled materials reduce exposure to geographically concentrated mining and processing supply chains.
- The EU Battery Regulation introduces progressively tighter requirements for battery collection, recycling efficiency, material recovery, and recycled content, with key obligations taking effect at different stages from 2025 onward, making recycling increasingly a compliance requirement rather than an optional sustainability initiative for battery manufacturers.
- The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act increases the strategic value of qualifying lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other battery materials recycled in North America by supporting compliance with clean-vehicle critical-minerals requirements and reducing exposure to overseas supply chains.
- North America is the fastest-growing regional market at 20.0% CAGR, reaching US$13.89 billion by 2036, driven by IRA incentives, gigafactory scrap availability, and growing investment in domestic hydrometallurgical refining capacity.
Commercial Impact
- Regulatory compliance: EU Battery Regulation requirements are converting recycling from a discretionary activity into a structural business obligation, creating long-term contracted demand for qualifying recyclers
- Supply chain resilience: Qualifying recycled battery materials are gaining strategic value under U.S. clean-vehicle rules and EU regulatory requirements, improving the strategic case for regional recycling relative to reliance on virgin mineral imports
- Vertical integration advantage: Companies controlling multiple stages from feedstock collection to refined material supply are achieving stronger margin positions and more predictable commercial pipelines
- Competitive positioning: Operators with secure feedstock networks, high-purity hydrometallurgical capability, and regulatory compliance infrastructure are best positioned to capture long-term market value
Company Intelligence
The EV battery recycling and second-life market is characterised by a mix of specialist recyclers, integrated material-recovery businesses, OEM-aligned joint ventures, and second-life BESS integrators competing across feedstock access, refining capability, and regional regulatory compliance.
Leading companies including Redwood Materials, Umicore, Brunp Recycling Technology, Ascend Elements, and Li-Cycle Holdings are strengthening their positions through hydrometallurgical capacity expansion, feedstock agreements, and second-life battery deployments.
Competition is increasingly defined by:
- Hydrometallurgical refining capability and battery-grade material purity
- Feedstock security across manufacturing scrap and end-of-life vehicle collection networks
- Regulatory compliance infrastructure under EU Battery Regulation and U.S. IRA requirements
- Vertical integration from black mass production to cathode-material supply
This report analyses how competitive positioning is evolving across 15 leading companies, identifying where value is being created and how strategies are expected to shift over the forecast period.
Key Questions Answered
- What is the projected size of the EV battery recycling and second-life market by 2036?
- How should capital allocation be split between hydrometallurgical recycling and second-life BESS applications?
- What is the optimal deployment timeline for the shift from pyrometallurgy to hydrometallurgy and direct cathode rejuvenation?
- How can organisations secure long-term battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life vehicle collection channels?
- How will EU Battery Regulation and U.S. IRA requirements impact regional procurement costs and compliance obligations?
- Who are the leading companies and how will their competitive positions evolve?
Report Scope and Data Coverage
- Global EV battery recycling and second-life market analysis
- Revenue forecasts to 2036 with annual growth estimates
- Segment-level modelling across business model, recycling process, battery chemistry, battery source, and recovered material
- Regional and national market forecasts across five regions
- Competitive intelligence on 15 leading companies
Includes both quantitative forecasting and qualitative strategic analysis covering technology, competition, trade dynamics, and regulatory frameworks.
Segmentation Framework
By Business Model
- Battery Recycling
- Battery Second-Life Applications
By Recycling Process
- Pyrometallurgical Recycling
- Hydrometallurgical Recycling
- Direct Recycling
By Battery Chemistry
- LFP
- NMC
- NCA
- Other Chemistry
By Battery Source
- End-of-Life EVs
- Battery Manufacturing Scrap
- Energy Storage Systems
- Consumer Electronics
- Other Sources
By Recovered Material
- Lithium (Li2CO3/LiOH)
- Nickel (NiSO4)
- Cobalt (CoSO4)
- Graphite
- Second-Life Battery BESS
- Other Recovered Materials
Geographic Coverage
North America
- U.S.
- Canada
Europe
- Germany
- UK
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
- Japan
- China
- India
- Australia
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia Pacific
Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
Middle East and Africa
- GCC
- South Africa
- Rest of MEA
Company Intelligence Coverage
This report includes detailed profiles of 15 leading companies, including:
- American Battery Technology Company
- Ascend Elements
- Brunp Recycling Technology (CATL Group)
- Cirba Solutions
- Ecobat
- Fortum Battery Recycling
- GEM Co.
- Li-Cycle Holdings
- Lohum Cleantech
- Neometals
- RecycLiCo Battery Materials
- Redwood Materials
- SungEel HiTech
- TES
- Umicore
Each profile includes:
- Business overview
- Financial and market positioning
- Technology roadmap and feedstock strategy
- Strategic outlook
Bespoke Intelligence & Customisation
Visiongain also provides tailored intelligence and advisory support aligned to specific client requirements.
This includes:
- Custom market segmentation and forecasts
- Competitive benchmarking and strategy analysis
- Regulatory impact assessment under EU Battery Regulation and U.S. IRA
- Feedstock and supply chain sourcing intelligence
- Scenario modelling including tariffs and geopolitical risk
Speak to our team about bespoke requirements
Why This Market Intelligence Matters
- The battery recycling and second-life market is evolving from a localised waste management service into a core strategic supplier of critical energy transition materials.
- Companies that establish secure feedstock collection networks, optimise hydrometallurgical refining yields, and build regional compliance capability will capture the most durable market positions over the forecast period.
- Purchase the Battery Recycling & Second-Life Battery Market Report 2026-2036 to access the complete dataset, forecasts, and competitive analysis.
Access the Full Forecast and Competitive Analysis
Purchase the Battery Recycling & Second-Life Battery Market Report 2026-2036 to access the complete dataset, forecasts, and competitive analysis.
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Government Registration
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