The Government of India has prohibited the export of specified lithium-ion battery black mass in a move aimed at strengthening domestic battery recycling and improving the availability of critical minerals for Indian industries.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announced the policy change through Notification No. 49/2026-27 dated November 10, 2026.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
DGFT issued Notification No. 49/2026-27 on November 10, 2026.
The export policy for specified battery black mass changed from 'Free' to 'Prohibited'.
The restriction applies under ITC (HS) Code 85491400.
The prohibition took effect immediately and remains applicable until further orders.
The specified material contains recoverable lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
The measure aims to improve domestic recycling feedstock availability.
Under the revised policy, the export status of the specified material under ITC (HS) Code 85491400 has been changed from 'Free' to 'Prohibited'. The restriction has come into effect immediately and will remain applicable until further orders.
The notification covers unsorted waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, including spent cells and batteries, that do not contain lead, cadmium or mercury. The specified category is identified in the notification as lithium-ion battery black mass.
The transitional arrangements under Paragraph 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, will also apply.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The decision has implications for India's battery recycling industry and its efforts to strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains. Retaining specified battery waste within the country could help recycling companies access additional raw material and improve the utilisation of existing processing facilities. Greater recovery of minerals from discarded batteries could also support the supply requirements of electric vehicle manufacturers, battery producers and energy storage companies. For India, the measure represents an effort to use domestically generated battery waste as an additional source of valuable industrial materials. Its effectiveness will depend on the development of adequate recycling and refining infrastructure.
What Is Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass?
Black mass is a powder-like material obtained from shredding end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing waste.
It contains recoverable quantities of valuable minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese. These materials are important for battery manufacturing, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, electronics and other industrial applications.
Through specialised recycling and refining processes, these minerals can be recovered and processed for further industrial use.
As demand for battery materials increases, discarded batteries and manufacturing waste are becoming important secondary sources of critical minerals.
Why Has India Prohibited Its Export?
According to the government, India's battery recycling and critical mineral recovery capacity has grown considerably. However, some domestic facilities are not being fully utilised because of inadequate availability of feedstock.
The government has stated that exports of domestically generated black mass divert this mineral-rich secondary resource to overseas markets. In some cases, domestic recyclers have also had to import black mass to meet their processing requirements.
The export prohibition is intended to ensure that black mass generated in India is recycled and refined within the country.
The measure is expected to improve the availability of raw material for domestic recycling facilities, increase their capacity utilisation and encourage further investment in the sector.
Focus on Critical Mineral Recovery
The decision is particularly relevant to India's efforts to strengthen domestic supplies of critical minerals.
Lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese are important materials used in different battery technologies and industrial applications.
Recovering these minerals from discarded batteries can provide an additional source of raw materials for manufacturers and reduce dependence on primary mineral extraction and overseas supplies.
The government expects the restriction to support domestic recovery of critical minerals and strengthen supply chains for battery manufacturing, electric vehicles, energy storage and clean-energy technologies.
Connection with the National Critical Mineral Mission
The export restriction complements the government's broader initiatives under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
In September 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling.
The scheme is intended to develop recycling capacity for separating and producing critical minerals from secondary sources, including battery waste and electronic waste.
By retaining specified black mass within India, the latest policy measure is expected to help provide domestic feedstock to recycling and refining facilities being developed under these initiatives.
Potential Impact on Indian Industry
The restriction could improve access to raw materials for Indian battery recyclers and mineral processing companies.
Greater availability of black mass may encourage investment in advanced recycling technologies and refining infrastructure.
The recovered materials could contribute to supply chains serving electric vehicle manufacturers, battery producers, electronics companies and energy storage projects.
However, the actual benefits will depend on the ability of domestic facilities to process the available material efficiently, recover minerals at commercially viable costs and meet applicable environmental regulations.
The policy therefore represents an effort to strengthen India's domestic recycling ecosystem, while its long-term industrial impact will depend on implementation and processing capacity.
