The Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Recovery market is experiencing significant growth and transformation as the world shifts towards cleaner technologies and a circular economy. The market focuses on the extraction and recycling of materials deemed critical for advanced technologies, particularly those essential for the clean energy transition and digital revolution.
Key drivers of the CRM Recovery market include:
- Increasing demand for clean energy technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, which require substantial amounts of CRMs.
- Growing awareness of supply chain vulnerabilities and the need for resource security, especially given the geographic concentration of many CRM sources.
- Regulatory pressures promoting recycling and sustainable resource use, such as the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act.
- Advancements in recycling technologies making CRM recovery more economically viable.
The market encompasses various materials, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, platinum group metals, and others.
Major sources for recovery include:
- End-of-life products (e-waste, spent batteries, catalytic converters)
- Industrial production scrap
- Urban mining initiatives
- Landfill mining projects
Key technologies in the CRM Recovery market include hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, bioleaching, and direct recycling methods. The choice of technology depends on the specific materials being recovered and the source. The CRM Recovery market is poised for substantial growth as it plays a crucial role in enabling the transition to a more sustainable and resilient global economy. The market is attracting increased investment and seeing the entry of both established players and innovative start-ups, driving technological advancements and expanding recovery capabilities. This comprehensive market research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global critical raw materials market from 2025 to 2040.
Report contents include:
- Detailed market size forecasts in both volume (ktonnes) and value (USD billions) from 2025-2040
- Segmentation by material type, recovery source, and geographic region
- Analysis of 15+ critical materials including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, platinum group metals, and more
- Evaluation of primary and secondary (recycled) material sources
- Assessment of extraction and recovery technologies
- Profiles of 155+ key players in the CRM industry. Companies profiled include ACCUREC-Recycling GmbH, Ascend Elements, BANiQL, BASF, Ceibo, Cirba Solutions, Cyclic Materials, Enim, Heraeus Remloy, HyProMag, JPM Silicon GmbH, Librec AG, MagREEsource, NeoMetals, Noveon Magnetics, Phoenix Tailings, Posco, REEtec, Rivalia Chemical, SiTration, Sumitomo and Summit Nanotech.
- Global supply and trade dynamics for CRMs
- The circular economy and sustainable use of CRMs
- Critical and strategic materials used in the energy transition
- CRM Recovery in Semiconductors and Electronics: Types of CRMs found in e-waste; Concentration and value of CRMs in e-waste; Collection, sorting, and pre-processing technologies; Metal recovery technologies like pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and biometallurgy; Market forecasts for CRM recovery from electronics 2025-2040.
- CRM Recovery in Lithium-ion Batteries: Li-ion battery recycling value chain; Recycling processes for different cathode chemistries; Comparison of recycling techniques (hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, direct recycling); Economic factors in battery recycling; Market forecasts for CRM recovery from batteries 2025-2040.
- Rare Earth Elements Recovery: REE recovery technologies; Comparison of recovery methods; REE recycling markets and players; Forecasts for REE recovery 2025-2040.
- Platinum Group Metals Recovery: PGM recovery from automotive catalysts; PGM recovery from fuel cells and electrolyzers; PGM recycling markets; Forecasts for PGM recovery 2025-2040
Critical raw materials are essential enablers of the clean energy transition and next-generation technologies. However, they face supply risks, price volatility, and sustainability concerns. This report provides businesses, investors, and policymakers with crucial intelligence on the rapidly evolving CRM market landscape.
Key questions answered include:
- What are the supply and demand projections for key CRMs through 2040?
- Which recovery technologies and sources will see the highest growth?
- How will recycling and urban mining impact primary CRM production?
- What are the economic factors driving CRM recovery from end-of-life products?
- Which geographic markets offer the greatest opportunities for CRM recovery?
- Who are the key players across the CRM value chain?
- What regulatory and sustainability trends will shape the market?
With detailed forecasts, technology assessments, and competitive analysis, this report offers an essential tool for strategy formulation in the critical materials sector. The shift towards clean energy and electrification is creating major market opportunities in CRM recovery and recycling. This comprehensive study provides the market intelligence needed to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainably-sourced critical raw materials.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- 1.1. Definition and Importance of Critical Raw Materials
- 1.2. E-Waste as a Source of Critical Raw Materials
- 1.3. Electrification, Renewable and Clean Technologies
- 1.4. Regulatory Landscape
- 1.4.1. European Union
- 1.4.2. United States
- 1.4.3. China
- 1.4.4. Japan
- 1.4.5. Australia
- 1.4.6. Canada
- 1.4.7. India
- 1.4.8. South Korea
- 1.4.9. Brazil
- 1.4.10. Russia
- 1.4.11. Global Initiatives
- 1.5. Key Market Drivers and Restraints
- 1.6. The Global Critical Raw Materials Market in 2024
- 1.7. Critical Material Extraction Technology
- 1.7.1. Recovery of critical materials from secondary sources (e.g., end-of-life products, industrial waste)
- 1.7.2. Critical rare-earth element recovery from secondary sources
- 1.7.3. Li-ion battery technology metal recovery
- 1.7.4. Critical semiconductor materials recovery
- 1.7.5. Critical semiconductor materials recovery
- 1.7.6. Critical platinum group metal recovery
- 1.7.7. Critical platinum Group metal recovery
- 1.8. Critical Raw Materials Value Chain
- 1.9. The Economic Case for Critical Raw Materials Recovery
- 1.10. Price Trends for Key Recovered Materials (2020-2024)
- 1.11. Global market forecasts
- 1.11.1. By Material Type (2025-2040)
- 1.11.2. By Recovery Source (2025-2040)
- 1.11.3. By Region (2025-2040)
2. INTRODUCTION
- 2.1. Critical Raw Materials
- 2.2. Global situation in supply and trade
- 2.3. Circular economy
- 2.3.1. Circular use of critical raw materials
- 2.4. Critical and strategic raw materials used in the energy transition
- 2.4.1. Greening critical metals
- 2.5. Metals and minerals processed and extracted
- 2.5.1. Copper
- 2.5.1.1. Global copper demand and trends
- 2.5.1.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.1.3. Copper extraction and recovery
- 2.5.2. Nickel
- 2.5.2.1. Global nickel demand and trends
- 2.5.2.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.2.3. Nickel extraction and recovery
- 2.5.3. Cobalt
- 2.5.3.1. Global cobalt demand and trends
- 2.5.3.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.3.3. Cobalt extraction and recovery
- 2.5.4. Rare Earth Elements (REE)
- 2.5.4.1. Global Rare Earth Elements demand and trends
- 2.5.4.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.4.3. Rare Earth Elements extraction and recovery
- 2.5.4.4. Recovery of REEs from secondary resources
- 2.5.5. Lithium
- 2.5.5.1. Global lithium demand and trends
- 2.5.5.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.5.3. Lithium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.6. Gold
- 2.5.6.1. Global gold demand and trends
- 2.5.6.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.6.3. Gold extraction and recovery
- 2.5.7. Uranium
- 2.5.7.1. Global uranium demand and trends
- 2.5.7.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.7.3. Uranium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.8. Zinc
- 2.5.8.1. Global Zinc demand and trends
- 2.5.8.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.8.3. Zinc extraction and recovery
- 2.5.9. Manganese
- 2.5.9.1. Global manganese demand and trends
- 2.5.9.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.9.3. Manganese extraction and recovery
- 2.5.10. Tantalum
- 2.5.10.1. Global tantalum demand and trends
- 2.5.10.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.10.3. Tantalum extraction and recovery
- 2.5.11. Niobium
- 2.5.11.1. Global niobium demand and trends
- 2.5.11.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.11.3. Niobium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.12. Indium
- 2.5.12.1. Global indium demand and trends
- 2.5.12.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.12.3. Indium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.13. Gallium
- 2.5.13.1. Global gallium demand and trends
- 2.5.13.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.13.3. Gallium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.14. Germanium
- 2.5.14.1. Global germanium demand and trends
- 2.5.14.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.14.3. Germanium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.15. Antimony
- 2.5.15.1. Global antimony demand and trends
- 2.5.15.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.15.3. Antimony extraction and recovery
- 2.5.16. Scandium
- 2.5.16.1. Global scandium demand and trends
- 2.5.16.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.16.3. Scandium extraction and recovery
- 2.5.17. Graphite
- 2.5.17.1. Global graphite demand and trends
- 2.5.17.2. Markets and applications
- 2.5.17.3. Graphite extraction and recovery
- 2.6. Recovery sources
- 2.6.1. Primary sources
- 2.6.2. Secondary sources
- 2.6.2.1. Extraction
- 2.6.2.1.1. Hydrometallurgical extraction
- 2.6.2.1.1.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.1.2. Lixiviants
- 2.6.2.1.1.3. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.1.2. Pyrometallurgical extraction
- 2.6.2.1.2.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.2.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.1.3. Biometallurgy
- 2.6.2.1.3.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.3.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.1.4. Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents
- 2.6.2.1.4.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.4.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.1.5. Electroleaching extraction
- 2.6.2.1.5.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.5.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.1.6. Supercritical fluid extraction
- 2.6.2.1.6.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.1.6.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2. Recovery
- 2.6.2.2.1. Solvent extraction
- 2.6.2.2.1.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.1.2. Rare-Earth Element Recovery
- 2.6.2.2.1.3. WOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.2. Ion exchange recovery
- 2.6.2.2.2.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.2.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.3. Ionic liquid (IL) and deep eutectic solvent (DES) recovery
- 2.6.2.2.3.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.3.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.4. Precipitation
- 2.6.2.2.4.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.4.2. Coagulation and flocculation
- 2.6.2.2.4.3. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.5. Biosorption
- 2.6.2.2.5.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.5.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.6. Electrowinning
- 2.6.2.2.6.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.6.2. SWOT analysis
- 2.6.2.2.7. Direct materials recovery
- 2.6.2.2.7.1. Overview
- 2.6.2.2.7.2. Rare-earth Oxide (REO) Processing Using Molten Salt Electrolysis
- 2.6.2.2.7.3. Rare-earth Magnet Recycling by Hydrogen Decrepitation
- 2.6.2.2.7.4. Direct Recycling of Li-ion Battery Cathodes by Sintering
- 2.6.2.2.7.5. SWOT analysis
3. CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS RECOVERY IN SEMICONDUCTORS
- 3.1. Critical semiconductor materials
- 3.2. Electronic waste (e-waste)
- 3.2.1. Types of Critical Raw Materials found in E-Waste
- 3.3. Photovoltaic and solar technologies
- 3.3.1. Common types of PV panels and their critical semiconductor components
- 3.3.2. Silicon Recovery Technology for Crystalline-Si PVs
- 3.3.3. Tellurium Recovery from CdTe Thin-Film Photovoltaics
- 3.3.4. Solar Panel Manufacturers and Recovery Rates
- 3.4. Concentration and value of Critical Raw Materials in E-Waste
- 3.5. Applications and Importance of Key Critical Raw Materials
- 3.6. Waste Recycling and Recovery Processes
- 3.7. Collection and Sorting Infrastructure
- 3.8. Pre-Processing Technologies
- 3.9. Metal Recovery Technologies
- 3.9.1. Pyrometallurgy
- 3.9.2. Hydrometallurgy
- 3.9.3. Biometallurgy
- 3.9.4. Supercritical Fluid Extraction
- 3.9.5. Electrokinetic Separation
- 3.9.6. Mechanochemical Processing
- 3.10. Global market 2025-2040
- 3.10.1. Ktonnes
- 3.10.2. Revenues
- 3.10.3. Regional
4. CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS RECOVERY IN LI-ION BATTERIES
- 4.1. Critical Li-ion Battery Metals
- 4.2. Critical Li-ion Battery Technology Metal Recovery
- 4.3. Lithium-Ion Battery recycling value chain
- 4.4. Black mass powder
- 4.5. Recycling different cathode chemistries
- 4.6. Preparation
- 4.7. Pre-Treatment
- 4.7.1. Discharging
- 4.7.2. Mechanical Pre-Treatment
- 4.7.3. Thermal Pre-Treatment
- 4.8. Comparison of recycling techniques
- 4.9. Hydrometallurgy
- 4.9.1. Method overview
- 4.9.1.1. Solvent extraction
- 4.9.2. SWOT analysis
- 4.10. Pyrometallurgy
- 4.10.1. Method overview
- 4.10.2. SWOT analysis
- 4.11. Direct recycling
- 4.11.1. Method overview
- 4.11.1.1. Electrolyte separation
- 4.11.1.2. Separating cathode and anode materials
- 4.11.1.3. Binder removal
- 4.11.1.4. Relithiation
- 4.11.1.5. Cathode recovery and rejuvenation
- 4.11.1.6. Hydrometallurgical-direct hybrid recycling
- 4.11.2. SWOT analysis
- 4.12. Other methods
- 4.12.1. Mechanochemical Pretreatment
- 4.12.2. Electrochemical Method
- 4.12.3. Ionic Liquids
- 4.13. Recycling of Specific Components
- 4.13.1. Anode (Graphite)
- 4.13.2. Cathode
- 4.13.3. Electrolyte
- 4.14. Recycling of Beyond Li-ion Batteries
- 4.14.1. Conventional vs Emerging Processes
- 4.14.2. Li-Metal batteries
- 4.14.3. Lithium sulfur batteries (Li-S)
- 4.14.4. All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs)
- 4.15. Economic case for Li-ion battery recycling
- 4.15.1. Metal prices
- 4.15.2. Second-life energy storage
- 4.15.3. LFP batteries
- 4.15.4. Other components and materials
- 4.15.5. Reducing costs
- 4.16. Competitive landscape
- 4.17. Global capacities, current and planned
- 4.18. Future outlook
- 4.19. Global market 2025-2040
- 4.19.1. Chemistry
- 4.19.2. Ktonnes
- 4.19.3. Revenues
- 4.19.4. Regional
5. CRITICAL RARE-EARTH ELEMENT RECOVERY
- 5.1. Introduction
- 5.2. Permanent magnet applications
- 5.3. Recovery technologies
- 5.3.1. Long-loop and short-loop recovery methods
- 5.3.2. Hydrogen decrepitation
- 5.3.3. Powder metallurgy (PM)
- 5.3.4. Long-loop magnet recycling
- 5.3.5. Solvent Extraction
- 5.3.6. Ion Exchange Resin Chromatography
- 5.3.7. Electrolysis and Metallothermic Reduction
- 5.4. Markets
- 5.4.1. Rare-earth magnet market
- 5.4.2. Rare-earth magnet recovery technology
- 5.5. Global market 2025-2040
- 5.5.1. Ktonnes
- 5.5.2. Revenues
6. CRITICAL PLATINUM GROUP METAL RECOVERY
- 6.1. Introduction
- 6.2. Supply chain
- 6.3. Prices
- 6.4. PGM Recovery
- 6.5. PGM recovery from spent automotive catalysts
- 6.6. PGM recovery from hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cells
- 6.6.1. Green hydrogen market
- 6.6.2. PGM recovery from hydrogen-related technologies
- 6.6.3. Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs)
- 6.6.4. Fuel cell catalysts
- 6.6.5. Emerging technologies
- 6.6.5.1. Microwave-assisted Leaching
- 6.6.5.2. Supercritical Fluid Extraction
- 6.6.5.3. Bioleaching
- 6.6.5.4. Electrochemical Recovery
- 6.6.5.5. Membrane Separation
- 6.6.5.6. Ionic Liquids
- 6.6.5.7. Photocatalytic Recovery
- 6.6.6. Sustainability of the hydrogen economy
- 6.7. Markets
- 6.8. Global market 2025-2040
- 6.8.1. Ktonnes
- 6.8.2. Revenues
7. COMPANY PROFILES (155 company profiles)
8. APPENDICES
- 8.1. Research Methodology
- 8.2. Glossary of Terms
- 8.3. List of Abbreviations
9. REFERENCES