SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 12-16, 2026

January 16, 2026

Gold Edges Lower But on Track for Weekly Gain

Gold prices slipped to around $4,600 per ounce on Friday, extending Thursday’s losses amid reduced safe-haven demand and easing bets of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Geopolitical risks in Iran temporarily eased after President Donald Trump indicated he may delay any military action, following Iran’s pledge not to execute protesters. Market sentiment was further calmed by reports that Israel and other Middle Eastern allies urged the US to postpone any potential strike on Iran. Additionally, strong US economic data released on Thursday prompted investors to scale back bets on imminent interest rate cuts. With economic conditions remaining resilient, markets anticipate that the Fed will keep rates unchanged later this month. Despite the pullback, gold has gained more than 2% so far this week, marking its second consecutive weekly increase and keeping prices within record levels. (Source: Trading Economics)

Citi Raises 3-Mth Aluminum Price Target to USD3.4K/ Ton

As aluminum prices are beginning a structural upward trend, several favorable macroeconomic and fundamental factors are prompting investors to reflect more medium-term bullish expectations in short-term prices, Citi said in its research report. From Citi’s perspective, aluminum prices surpassing previous target levels signal robust capital inflows and a strengthening trend across the non-ferrous metals market. Expecting further upside in aluminum prices due to strong short-term momentum and policy-driven demand support, the broker has raised the 0-3 month price target to USD3,400 per ton. (Source: Citi)

Silver Falls as US Defers Import Tariffs

Silver fell nearly 2% to below $91 per ounce on Friday, resuming its decline after seeing sharp swings in the previous session, as the US decided to refrain from imposing tariffs on critical minerals. The threat of possible US import tariffs on key minerals had fueled a broad rally across commodities, pushing silver, copper and other metals to all-time highs as traders rushed shipments into the US to get ahead of possible levies. Silver was added to the US critical minerals list last year due to its vital role in advanced technologies and clean energy infrastructure, particularly in solar panels, electric vehicles and electronics. Still, the white metal remains on track to post a weekly gain of more than 13%, supported by strong safe-haven demand for precious metals amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing concerns over the US Federal Reserve’s independence. (Source: Trading Economics)

Iron Ore Pressured by Soft Demand

Iron ore futures held below CNY 820 per ton and were set to end the week lower, pressured by signs of slowing demand from China’s steel sector. Hot metal output, a key indicator of iron ore consumption, fell by nearly 2 million tons in the latest period, reflecting softer steel production and annual maintenance at some mills. Data released earlier this week showed that China recorded record iron ore imports both in December and for the full year 2025, keeping inventories elevated at the start of the year. Meanwhile, China also posted record steel exports last month, as traders front-loaded shipments ahead of Beijing’s planned export license requirements scheduled for 2026. In other developments, Australia’s BHP Group and Rio Tinto announced plans to join forces in the Pilbara iron ore region, targeting production of up to 200 million tons of the steelmaking material from the next decade. (Source: Trading Economics)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 12-16, 2026

MoEI, BEEAH, LOHUM to Form JV Advancing Plans for UAE’s First EV Battery Recycling Facility

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has announced plans to form a new joint venture with BEEAH, the region’s leading sustainability and innovation pioneer, and LOHUM, India’s largest diversified producer of sustainable critical minerals and advanced materials. Announced at the World Future Energy Summit on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the partnership will facilitate the development of the UAE’s first, large-scale facility for electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and second-life repurposing. The joint venture builds on an earlier collaboration agreement between BEEAH and LOHUM to bring advanced lithium-ion battery recycling to the UAE. To be located within BEEAH’s integrated Waste Management Complex in Al Saja’a, Sharjah, the facility will have the technology to recycle and repurpose EV batteries, as well as other types of Lithium-ion batteries, enabling the UAE’s broader circular economy strategy. In 2026, it aims to process 1,500 tonnes of Lithium-ion batteries and, by the third year of operations, double its processing capacity. (Source: Gulf Business)

Rio Tinto and Amazon Web Services Collaborate to Bring Low-Carbon Nuton Copper to U.S. Data Centers

Rio Tinto announces a strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) that will see AWS become Nuton® Technology’s first customer following the breakthrough industrial-scale deployment of the innovative bioleaching technology at the Johnson Camp copper mine in the U.S. last month. Under the two-year agreement, AWS will use the first Nuton copper ever produced in components of its U.S. data centers, while also providing cloud-based data and analytics support to accelerate the optimization of Nuton’s proprietary bioleaching technology at Gunnison Copper’s Johnson Camp mine. Data centers use copper in a wide variety of applications, including electrical cables and busbars, windings in transformers and motors, printed circuit boards, and heat sinks on processors. Nuton is also utilizing AWS platforms to simulate heap-leach performance and feed advanced analytics into Nuton’s decision systems, allowing for optimized acid and water use while improving predictions for copper recovery. It’s modular bioleaching system works by extracting copper from primary sulphide ores using naturally occurring microorganisms. This approach, combined with digital tools, enables rapid scaling and tailoring of the technology to different ore bodies, reducing the pathway from concept to production. (Source: Rio Tinto)

CARE Launches CarpeTell Device to Speed Carpet Fiber Sorting

The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has unveiled CarpeTell, a handheld fiber identification device designed to improve the speed and accuracy of carpet recycling as U.S. recycling mandates expand. Developed as a replacement for the discontinued microPHAZIR analyzer, CarpeTell uses near-infrared technology to identify contemporary carpet fibers and blends in under half a second. CARE collaborated with U.K.-based technology firm Matoha and industry veteran Frank Endrenyi to adapt the system specifically for recycling operations. CARE said the device is aimed primarily at post-consumer carpet recyclers but can also be used by post-industrial recyclers and nylon compounders. Its compact design, extended battery life and updatable fiber library are intended to support high-volume warehouse use. CARE Executive Director Bob Peoples said the device will be critical as extended producer responsibility laws take effect in states including California and New York. (Source: CARE)

Call2Recycle Rebrands as The Battery Network to Reflect Expanded Role

U.S. battery stewardship organization Call2Recycle has rebranded as The Battery Network, signaling a shift from a collection-focused program to a broader role supporting the circular energy economy. The Atlanta-based nonprofit, founded in 1994, said the new name reflects its growing work across the full battery life cycle, including recycling logistics, regulatory compliance and recovery of critical materials, as demand for batteries accelerates with the rise of electric vehicles and consumer electronics. Chief executive Leo Raudys said the organization’s mission now extends beyond collection to building national infrastructure that reduces fire risks, supports energy security and keeps materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel in circulation. According to company data, The Battery Network collects and recycles millions of pounds of batteries annually through more than 20,000 U.S. drop-off sites, with 80% of Americans living within 15 miles of a location. The rebrand, developed with design firm Pentagram, will roll out nationwide in the coming months. (Source: The Battery Network)

Comstock Metals Secures Nevada Permit for Solar Panel Recycling Facility

Comstock Metals LLC has received a key environmental permit to move forward with an industry-scale solar panel recycling facility in Silver Springs, Nevada, the company said. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management issued a Written Determination Permit allowing the processing of end-of-life solar panels and photovoltaic materials. An associated air quality permit was approved earlier this month, completing the regulatory approvals required to commission the facility. Once operational, the material recovery facility is expected to process more than 3 million solar panels annually—up to 100,000 tons of material—from a single continuous processing line, according to company reporting. Comstock said the site will use integrated technologies to crush, extract and recycle metal concentrates from photovoltaic panels. Installation, testing and commissioning are scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The company said growing solar decommissioning in the U.S. Southwest is driving demand for large-scale recycling solutions. (Source: Comstock Metals)

Hensel Recycling to Open Singapore Hub, Expanding Asia Footprint

Hensel Recycling will establish a new regional operation in Singapore, strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia and India as demand for precious metal recycling continues to grow, the company said. The new entity, Hensel Recycling Asia Pte. Ltd., is scheduled to begin production in February 2026 and will operate as a strategic hub alongside the group’s existing facility in Malaysia. The company said the expansion is intended to improve customer access and support rising regional demand for high-quality recycling of precious metals and automotive catalytic converters. Hensel Recycling Asia will be led by Sivakumar “Siva” Avadiar, an industry veteran with extensive experience in catalytic converter recycling. Managing Director Oliver Krestin said the Singapore base supports the company’s long-term growth strategy and reinforces its commitment to sustainable recycling and regional partnerships. The move further expands Hensel Recycling’s global processing and logistics network. (Source: Hensel Recycling)

Hydro Joins Alumobility to Support Sustainable Automotive Design

Norsk Hydro has joined Alumobility, a Zurich-based nonprofit focused on advancing aluminum solutions for the automotive industry, the company said, reinforcing its push toward lighter and more sustainable vehicle design. Founded in 2021 and co-established by aluminum producers including Constellium and Novelis, Alumobility works with automakers through technical case studies and industry collaboration to demonstrate aluminum’s role in improving vehicle efficiency and circularity. Hydro said its participation will support automotive original equipment manufacturers seeking to meet tightening sustainability and performance targets, drawing on the company’s experience in low-carbon aluminum production and materials innovation. Paul Warton, executive vice president of Hydro Extrusions, said aluminum is central to enabling energy-efficient and recyclable vehicles. Alumobility President Martin Norden said Hydro’s expertise across the aluminum value chain, from primary production to recycling, will strengthen the organization’s technical knowledge base and industry outreach. (Source: Hydro)

Pyrum and UNITANK Launch UniPyrum Joint Venture to Build Tyre Recycling Plants in Europe

Pyrum Innovations AG and UNITANK Holding GmbH & Co. KG have formed a joint venture, UniPyrum, to develop and operate up to ten end-of-life tyre recycling plants across Europe, the companies said. Under the agreement, UNITANK holds a 51% stake and Pyrum 49%. The Hamburg-based venture will deploy Pyrum’s thermolysis technology to process used tyres into recovered materials, with each facility designed to handle at least 22,000 tonnes annually. Plants will initially include a minimum of three reactors, with modular expansion planned as demand grows. Preparatory work has been completed for the first project, with UNITANK’s site in Emleben, Thuringia, identified as a potential initial location. Approval procedures are expected to begin shortly. The partners said the initiative aims to scale recycling capacity in response to tightening European waste and circular economy requirements. (Source: Pyrum Innovations AG)

L’Oréal Selects First 13 Startups for €100 Million Sustainability Accelerator

L’Oréal has named the first 13 startups and small businesses to join its L’AcceleratOR sustainable innovation programme, a €100 million initiative aimed at advancing climate, nature and circular economy solutions. The five-year programme, run in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), drew nearly 1,000 applications from 101 countries. Selected companies span four focus areas: next-generation packaging and materials, nature-sourced ingredients, circular solutions and data intelligence. In packaging and materials, participants include UK-based seaweed packaging developer Kelpi, Japan’s bioplastics firm Bioworks, Sweden’s fibre-cap specialist Blue Ocean Closures, and Pulpex, which is developing recyclable paper bottles. L’Oréal said the selected partners will receive intensive support from CISL to prepare pilot projects, with access to the company’s global operations for six- to nine-month trials and potential large-scale deployment. (Source: Packaging Europe)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 12-16, 2026

Trump Says No Critical Minerals Tariffs for Now, Will Seek Overseas Supplies

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had opted for now against imposing tariffs on rare earths, lithium and other critical minerals, and instead ordered his administration to seek supplies from international trading partners. The move defers a decision on duties that could further roil the U.S. economy, especially while the Supreme Court is deliberating the legality of Trump’s tariffs. By acknowledging the country is far from being self-reliant for its critical minerals needs, though, it may rankle the domestic mining sector. Trump ordered U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to “enter into negotiations with trading partners to adjust the imports of (critical minerals) so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security of the United States.” The negotiations, Trump said, should promote the use of price floors for critical minerals, a step long sought by Western miners and policymakers. G7 finance ministers and those from other major economies like Australia met in Washington earlier this week to discuss such a step, for example. If Greer and Lutnick’s negotiations are not successful, Trump said he would consider setting minimum import prices for critical minerals or “may take other measures,” without elaborating. (Source: Reuters)

China to Adjust or Cancel Export Tax Rebates for Photovoltaic and Battery Products

China announced that it will change export tax rebates for a range of products, including photovoltaic and battery products. The announcement, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, said that export tax rebates for the value-added tax of photovoltaic products will be canceled starting from April 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the export tax rebate rate for the value-added tax of battery products will be reduced from 9 percent to 6 percent starting from April 1, 2026, and will be eliminated starting from Jan. 1, 2027, according to the announcement. The move is welcomed by China’s domestic industry, with the China Photovoltaic Industry Association saying that the measure will help restore rational pricing in foreign markets and reduce the risk of trade frictions for China. Over the long term, the measure will help prevent export prices from falling too rapidly and lower the risk of trade disputes further, according to the association. (Source: China’s State Council Information Office)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 12-16, 2026