Electric vehicle adoption is expanding globally, but the growth in demand for lithium-ion batteries has outpaced the development of recycling infrastructure outside China, leaving many recyclers facing financial and operational challenges. With China dominating over 80% of the global battery recycling market, international firms are struggling to compete due to higher costs and limited access to raw materials. The imbalance between supply and recycling capacity raises concerns about sustainability and the long-term viability of the EV battery supply chain. Industry experts warn that without significant investment and innovation, the gap could widen, threatening the circular economy goals of the green energy transition.
As EV adoption slows, battery recyclers beyond China struggle to stay in the game Nikkei Asia
