Ascend Elements to Deliver Recycled Lithium Carbonate in Collaboration with Trafigura

According to an announcement from Ascend Elements, the U.S.-based advanced battery materials company has entered into a multi-year offtake agreement with global commodities trader Trafigura to supply 15,000 metric tons of recycled, low-carbon battery-grade lithium carbonate between 2027 and 2031. The partnership aims to accelerate a more sustainable and resilient battery materials supply chain across the U.S. and Europe.

Under the agreement, Ascend Elements will produce lithium carbonate using its patented Hydro-to-Cathode® technology, which recovers and refines valuable materials from spent lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap. Trafigura will use its global marketing, logistics, and distribution capabilities to deliver the material to battery and EV manufacturers worldwide.

According to Ascend Elements, the collaboration enables both companies to meet the growing demand for responsibly sourced and traceable materials from automakers and battery producers, supporting the transition toward a circular economy and lower-carbon manufacturing.

“Trafigura’s global platform paired with our Hydro-to-Cathode® process turns circularity into supply security,” said Linh Austin, President and CEO of Ascend Elements. “Together we’ll deliver low-carbon, recycled lithium carbonate that is traceable, responsibly-sourced, and available where customers build across the U.S. and Europe, reducing carbon, cost, and geopolitical risk while accelerating a resilient battery supply chain.”

Gonzalo De Olazaval, Global Head of Metals and Minerals at Trafigura, commented that the partnership advances the development of sustainable domestic battery material supply chains. “We are pleased to be partnering with Ascend Elements and supporting the circular economy,” he said.

Industry observers note that the agreement reflects a broader shift toward localized and circular battery supply chains, as the demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems accelerates worldwide. Both the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) include measures to promote domestic recycling and processing of lithium, nickel, and other materials used in batteries.

By combining Ascend Elements’ recycling innovation with Trafigura’s global distribution network, the partnership demonstrates how industrial collaboration can reduce reliance on primary lithium mining while improving material traceability and regional supply security.

Source: Ascend Elements

SUNSHINE Spotlight: By securing long-term offtake volumes and proven recycling capacity, the Ascend-Trafigura partnership moves beyond pledges of sustainability to establish a tangible pathway for integrating recycled lithium into commercial supply chains across the U.S. and Europe.