On March 11th, we had an online meeting with Ms. Mariko McSweeney, Marketing Manager at Dainen Materials, to exchange information on the company’s business and the market trends surrounding black mass.

 

Ms. McSweeney leads Dainen Material’s online and offline promotional activities. With her unique perspective and passion in the fields of marketing and branding, she has made significant contributions to increasing the company’s visibility.

 

 

Overview of Dainen Materials' Business

 

Established in 2017 as part of the Dainen Group, Dainen Materials is headquartered in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Initially, the company focused on the research, development, and production of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Today, it has expanded into the recycling and trading of lithium-ion batteries. In addition, the company has integrated its anode materials and black mass recycling divisions to form the Anode Graphite Recycling Division, aiming to contribute to a more sustainable society.

 

 

Anode Division

 

Graphite Anode Materials:

The company is engaged in the production and quality management of graphite anode materials for automotive lithium-ion batteries.

 

Contract Testing Services:

Dainen provides prototyping services for pouch and cylindrical cells, offering detailed analysis using state-of-the-art equipment along with customized evaluation and testing services.

 

 

Black Mass Division

 

Battery Recycling and Black Mass Production:

Since 2022, Dainen has operated Japan's first battery recycling facility in India, recovering used batteries and producing several hundred tons of high-quality black mass each month. The company offers highly reliable solutions that balance safe disposal with effective recycling.

 

Trading of Battery Recycling Materials:

With over 10 years of experience, the company trades black mass, cathode materials, and battery scrap globally.

 

 

Dainen Materials currently handles a monthly trade volume of 300 to 500 tons, with most exports destined for Asian countries. Due to current export restrictions, direct shipments to China are limited, and products are typically routed through other Asian countries. However, the Chinese government has indicated plans to ease these restrictions around July 2025, potentially allowing direct exports to China in the near future.

 

Related Article:

Black Mass Market Update 2025 #2

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announces New Guidelines on Secondary Resource Imports

 

Recently, black mass prices have been trending upward due to concerns over the supply of nickel and cobalt. Regarding imports from Europe, the EU has strengthened waste export regulations to non-OECD countries, requiring prior approval from the importing countries. This has had a noticeable impact on production at recycling companies in various regions.

 

Related Article:

EU Introduces New Waste Export Regulations: List of 24 Approved Countries Released

 

 

Anode Graphite Recycling Business

 

Dainen Materials is also actively involved in anode graphite recycling, with the following initiatives:

 

Investigating recycling processes and quality assessment methods for anode scrap generated during battery manufacturing.

 

Designing systems tailored to the needs of individual cell manufacturers and exploring possibilities to reduce environmental impact, with the goal of establishing a closed-loop process.

 

 

Through this recycling process, the company aims to reduce graphite waste and recover high-quality anode materials for new battery production, thereby contributing to the development of a circular economy.

 

Furthermore, Dainen Materials is participating in NEDO’s 2024 International Demonstration Project for Japanese Technologies Supporting Decarbonization and Energy Transition. The company is currently conducting pilot-scale recycling research at facilities and laboratories in Japan, with an eye toward future technology deployment in Hungary and the broader European market.

 

 

References:

Dainen Materials Official Website

Dainen Materials Corporate Introduction Video

Dainen Materials Official LinkedIn

 

 

(IRuniverse)

 

 

Related articles