India has banned the export of lithium-ion battery black mass with immediate effect, in a move aimed at keeping critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel in the country for domestic recyclers.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the commerce ministry, issued a notification on Tuesday, November 10, changing the export policy for the material from “Free” to “Prohibited” until further orders. Transitional arrangements under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 will apply.
01. Key takeaways
- The DGFT notification covers unsorted waste and scrap of lithium-ion batteries, classified as black mass.
- Black mass is the powder left after used lithium-ion batteries are shredded. It holds lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
- India recorded zero exports of black mass in 2025-26, but the ban stops future shipments leaving the country.
- The move supports the National Critical Mineral Mission and India’s EV and battery manufacturing plans.
02. What exactly is banned
The ban covers waste and scrap of primary cells, batteries and electric accumulators that are unsorted and do not contain lead, cadmium or mercury, classified under ITC (HS) Code 85491400. The notification specifically identifies lithium-ion battery black mass under this classification.
The Hindu noted that the revised policy applies to this specific category of unsorted battery waste and scrap, and does not amount to a blanket ban on every battery-related export.
03. Why the government acted
Domestic recyclers have been short of feedstock despite heavy investment in capacity. Industry estimates suggest India has built more than 100,000 metric tonnes of annual battery shredding capacity and over 60,000 metric tonnes of refining capacity, while domestic black mass generation remains below 15,000 metric tonnes a year.
The export ban follows the National Critical Mineral Mission, approved in January 2025 with government spending of Rs 16,300 crore and expected investments of Rs 18,000 crore over seven years. The Union Cabinet also recently approved a Rs 2,814 crore scheme to support critical mineral processing, and a Rs 1,500 crore incentive scheme for recycling capacity in September 2025.
The Material Recycling Association of India welcomed the restriction, saying it would help conserve critical minerals. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, said the government had acted to prevent future shipments and keep the material available to domestic refiners.
| Notification | DGFT, November 10, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Policy change | Export status: “Free” to “Prohibited” |
| Classification | ITC (HS) Code 85491400 |
| Effect | Immediate, until further orders |
| India’s black mass exports, FY26 | Zero |
04. FAQs
What is battery black mass?
It is the powder-like material produced when used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, phones and energy storage systems are dismantled and shredded. It contains valuable metals including lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
Does the ban cover all battery exports?
No. It covers only unsorted waste and scrap of lithium-ion batteries under the specified classification. Processed and sorted material is not covered by this notification.
Why does the ban matter for electric vehicles?
Keeping black mass in India gives domestic recyclers and refiners the feedstock they need to recover lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are key inputs for EV batteries and energy storage.
