SMM News, January 14:
According to SMM, on December 26, 2025, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council issued an announcement on the 2026 tariff adjustment plan. Effective January 1, 2026, import tariff rates and categories for certain goods were adjusted.
Among the adjustments, the most-favored-nation tariff rate for recycled black mass for lithium-ion batteries in 2026 is 6.5%, with a provisional tariff rate for 2026 set at 3%. In August 2025, multiple departments including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued an announcement clarifying that recycled black mass raw material for lithium-ion batteries meeting the relevant requirements of the national standard "Recycled Black Mass for Lithium-Ion Batteries" is not considered solid waste and can be imported freely. Following the implementation of the policy, from August to December 2025, several domestic hydrometallurgical enterprises successfully imported black mass.
Currently, the national product code assigned to recycled black mass raw material for lithium-ion batteries is 3824999996, which is a 10-digit code. However, the General Administration of Customs currently only supports queries for the first 8 digits. Under the 8-digit code 38249999, there are other products such as 38249999.95 (crude nickel-cobalt hydroxide) and 38249999.99 (other chemical products not elsewhere specified).
Based on import data queried under the 8-digit code 38249999, imports from August to November were as follows: 810 mt in August, 860 mt in September, 804 mt in October, and 814 mt in November. Data for December is not yet available. Overall, China's black mass imports from August to November remained relatively stable, at around 800 mt in physical content. Sentiment regarding customs declarations and purchases in the domestic market has been generally cautious. However, the clarified tariff adjustment plan, which reduces import tariffs on black mass and other recycled raw materials, is expected to further lower import costs for enterprises and have a positive impact on domestic companies' import purchases in early 2026.
