More South Korean black mass to be considered raw material rather than waste, but LFP currently excluded

New battery recycling rules entering force in the coming months in South Korea are to change how end-of-life batteries are graded, traded and processed in one of the largest recycling hubs outside China. The first new piece of legislation to enter force, this by the end of 2026, will expand the definition of raw material for black mass but exclude lithium iron phosphate (LFP) material, which Benchmark forecasts will make up 46% of South Korea’s black mass by 2040. Under the new rules, a greater volume of nickel- and cobalt-containing black mass could qualify to be considered a raw material in South Korea under amendments to the country’s Waste Controls Act. Currently, black mass must contain ≥10% nickel by weight, or be counted as waste, which comes with storage and handling requirements that increase recyclers’ costs.