Against the backdrop of the global power battery recycling market expanding at an annual rate of over 20%, Jiangxi Mingxin has achieved efficient iron recovery from waste lithium battery crushed materials through its advanced crushing and sorting technology — with a stable recovery of approximately 250kg of iron per ton of crushed material. This data is based on the three-month continuous operation test report of the enterprise's MX series recycling line and has been sampled and verified by the Jiangxi Provincial Renewable Resources Industry Association. The company is now providing a renewable resource solution that combines environmental value and cost advantages for the steel industry. This breakthrough not only responds to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's policy guidance on 50% immediate refund of value-added tax for power battery recycling but also opens up new profit margins in the market environment where raw material prices fluctuate sharply.
Secondary Value Reconstruction of Iron Resources
Iron resources in waste lithium batteries are mainly concentrated in metal components such as casings and structural parts, with an iron content of 250kg per ton of crushed material. This recovery volume is higher than the industry average, which ranges from 180kg to 220kg of iron per ton of crushed material. Previously, such iron resources were mostly regarded as by-products of recycling. However, in Jiangxi Mingxin's MX series recycling line, the electrolyte and cathode materials in lithium batteries are first separated through the coordinated operation of a hammer crushing system and a negative pressure sorting system. Then, the independently developed gravity sorting equipment accurately separates iron from metals such as copper and aluminum. The final iron purity can reach over 95%, fully meeting the steel-making raw material standards for small and medium-sized steel enterprises (in line with the Fe95 raw material requirements specified in GB/T 4223-2017 Scrap Steel).
From an environmental perspective, this recycling model demonstrates significant advantages. Data shows that recycling 1 ton of lithium battery recycled iron can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.5 tons, and energy consumption is reduced by nearly 60% compared with the mining and smelting process of primary iron ore. With the advancement of the Carbon Peaking Action Plan Before 2030 for the low-carbon transformation of the steel industry, such low-carbon recycled raw materials are becoming an important way for steel mills to obtain carbon emission reduction credits. Currently, the price of recycled iron in East China is stable in the range of 2,160-2,730 yuan per ton, while the cost of primary iron raw materials of the same quality is 320-550 yuan higher per ton.
Price Competitiveness of Large-Scale Recycling
Jiangxi Mingxin's modular recycling line is designed with a capacity of 300-2,500kg per hour, allowing it to spread processing costs through economies of scale. After incorporating national tax preferential policies, the actual cost of recycled iron of this enterprise is reduced by 240-360 yuan per ton compared with the market average. Taking the local market in Jiangxi as an example, the latest purchase price of heavy scrap at Ji'an Iron and Steel is 2,270 yuan per ton, while the quotation of recycled iron provided by Mingxin is only 2,100-2,200 yuan per ton, forming an obvious regional price advantage while ensuring purity.
This price competitiveness also benefits from the industrial chain synergy effect. As the scale of the Asia-Pacific lithium battery recycling market is expected to grow from 2.3 billion US dollars in 2024 to 14.8 billion US dollars in 2034, waste iron, as a by-product resource in the recycling process, has seen continuous improvement in its large-scale supply capacity. Industry data shows that the domestic scrap steel utilization volume reached 241-289 million tons in 2024, and the increase in the proportion of electric furnace steelmaking is continuously expanding the demand for high-quality recycled iron, creating a stable market foundation for enterprises like Jiangxi Mingxin.
Market analysts point out that against the backdrop of increasing global iron ore price fluctuations, lithium battery recycled iron, with its stable supply channels and predictable cost structure, is becoming a strategic choice for steel enterprises to hedge against raw material risks. Through technological optimization, Jiangxi Mingxin has achieved an iron recovery volume of 250kg per ton of crushed material, which is not only higher than the industry average but also extends the resource life cycle of power batteries. It has found a precise balance between the "dual carbon" goal and market benefits, providing a replicable commercial model for circular economy practices.
