U.S. restricts battery black mass exports to domestic buyers

The U.S. government has placed new limits on exports of battery black mass, a shredded material from used lithium-ion batteries. The rule was published on August 6, 2026, and requires that black mass made in the United States must be sold to American buyers. Companies will need special permission to sell it abroad. The rule comes from the Defense Production Act and will stay in place for one year. Black mass contains valuable minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Battery company Electra said the rule supports its plan to build a nickel refinery in the southeastern United States. The company noted that U.S. facilities for collecting and shredding old batteries have grown quickly, but domestic refining has not kept pace.