POSCO Holdings Ronbay Strategic Partnership Expands Battery Materials Cooperation

POSCO Holdings and Ronbay Strengthen Battery Materials Partnership

POSCO Holdings announced on August 19 that it has agreed to form a strategic partnership with Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology, a major Chinese cathode material manufacturer. The POSCO Holdings Ronbay strategic partnership will cover cooperation across the secondary battery materials value chain, extending from lithium supply to the recovery and recycling of materials from used batteries. The agreement builds on an existing business relationship between the companies and is intended to strengthen global cooperation in battery-materials supply while supporting a more integrated approach to material recovery and reuse.

Battery-Grade Lithium Supply Plans

The companies plan to cooperate on the supply of battery-grade lithium by utilizing multiple sources within the POSCO group’s lithium portfolio. These sources include hard-rock lithium produced by POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution, brine-based lithium produced by POSCO Argentina, and recycled lithium recovered from used batteries by POSCO HY Clean Metal. A key milestone is the planned completion, by the fourth quarter of 2026, of the quality certification process for battery-grade lithium hydroxide produced from hard-rock lithium by POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution. Completion of this process would establish the foundation for commercial-scale supply.

Closed-Loop Battery Material Recycling

China remains an important manufacturing base in the partnership, while the existing supply relationship provides a foundation for deeper cooperation. POSCO HY Clean Metal currently supplies nickel, cobalt and manganese to Ronbay Technology’s plants in China and its Korean precursor subsidiary EMT. Building on these existing flows, POSCO and Ronbay Technology intend to strengthen cooperation toward a closed-loop system that can recover and recycle valuable materials from used batteries. The approach connects primary lithium resources with recycled materials and downstream battery-material applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the POSCO Holdings Ronbay strategic partnership?
The partnership is a strategic cooperation agreement between POSCO Holdings and Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology covering the secondary battery materials value chain, including lithium supply and used-battery recycling. The companies plan to leverage lithium from hard-rock, brine and recycled sources, while strengthening their existing supply relationship for nickel, cobalt and manganese. A major near-term objective is completing quality certification for battery-grade lithium hydroxide produced from hard-rock lithium by the fourth quarter of 2026, creating the basis for commercial-scale supply and deeper closed-loop battery-material recycling cooperation.