Global Cobalt Scrap Recycling Market Strategic Research Report

Scope of the Report

The global Cobalt Scrap Recycling market size is predicted to grow from US$ 1,722 million in 2025 to US$ 4,028 million in 2032; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2026 to 2032.

Cobalt is a strategic metal and an important raw material for the production of anti-corrosion alloys, heat-resistant alloys, magnetic alloys, and hard alloys. Regenerated cobalt refers to the repurification and processing of waste cobalt through a series of treatments to make it reusable. Regenerated cobalt has the advantages of low production cost, environmental protection, and simple production process, and has broad application prospects in the fields of batteries, cobalt alloys, and cobalt magnetic materials.

In 2016, Amnesty International, a US human rights organization, claimed that some companies, including Apple, Samsung Electronics, Sony, and Microsoft, purchased cobalt from producers who used minors to mine cobalt, which brought huge negative impacts to technology companies. Since then, a large number of technology companies have begun to make their supply chains transparent to verify that the cobalt they use comes from regular manufacturers. Recycled cobalt has received a lot of attention due to its completely green production. Apple announced that by 2025, all Apple-designed batteries will use 100% recycled cobalt. At the same time, with the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, especially in the context of the global transition to renewable energy, the demand for cobalt as a key material in lithium-ion batteries has increased significantly. The application of recycled cobalt can effectively alleviate the problems of supply chain tension and insufficient cobalt resources in China.

In 2019, the global production of recycled cobalt was about 16,460 metal metric tons, of which cobalt from lithium battery waste accounted for 68.81%. In 2023, the global production of recycled cobalt will grow rapidly to 43,408 metal metric tons, of which 83.50% will come from lithium battery waste. It is estimated that in 2030, the global production of recycled cobalt will be 98,324 metal metric tons, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.86% from 2024 to 2030.

From the perspective of consumption regions, China occupies an absolute share. In 2023, China's recycled cobalt consumption will be 31,214 tons of metal, accounting for about 71.90% of the global market. China itself is a major producer and consumer of refined cobalt, producing and consuming 85% of the world's refined cobalt. With the development of electric vehicles, the lithium battery recycling industry in the United States and Europe is also developing rapidly. It is estimated that in 2030, the consumption of recycled cobalt in the United States and Europe will be 8,470 tons of metal and 10,171 tons of metal, respectively. In Africa, CNGR Advanced Material, a Chinese battery material giant, has built a new lithium battery ternary precursor material plant and recycling plant in Morocco, which has led to Morocco's emergence in the recycled cobalt market.

From the perspective of production companies, the world's top five recycled cobalt companies are all Chinese companies. The major global manufacturers of Recycled Cobalt include GEM, Huayou Holding Group, CNGR Advanced Material, BRUNP RECYCLING, Miracle Automation Engineering, Redwood Materials, Umicore, Guangdong Guanghua Sci-Tech, Ganzhou Highpower Technology, and TES, etc.

Key Questions Addressed in this Report

What is the 10-year outlook for the global Cobalt Scrap Recycling market?

What factors are driving Cobalt Scrap Recycling market growth, globally and by region?

Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?

How do Cobalt Scrap Recycling market opportunities vary by end market size?

How does Cobalt Scrap Recycling break out by Type, by Application?

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the global Cobalt Scrap Recycling market, covering market size and forecast, segmentation by product type and application, competitive landscape, leading players and regional and country-level outlook.

Segment by Type

• Sources of Used Batteries
• Sources of Cobalt Alloy Waste
• Other

Segment by Application

• Automotive Power Battery
• Consumer Electronics Battery
• Alloy
• Other

Who Can Use This Report?

This report is written for decision-makers who need a clear, data-backed view of the global Cobalt Scrap Recycling market:

• Manufacturers, suppliers and solution providers benchmarking their position and planning product, capacity and go-to-market strategy
• Distributors, channel partners and end users in Automotive Power Battery, Consumer Electronics Battery, Alloy evaluating demand and sourcing options
• Investors, financial analysts and consultants assessing growth opportunities, competitive dynamics and M&A potential
• Government agencies, industry associations and research institutions tracking industry developments and policy impact