Ascend Elements, Trafigura partner for sustainable battery mineral supply chain

Ascend Elements, provider of sustainable engineered battery materials and lithium‑ion recycling, announced a multi‑year offtake agreement for lithium carbonate with global commodities company Trafigura. The agreement totals 15,000 metric tons (15 kilotons) to be delivered between 2027 and 2031.

Under the terms of the agreement, Trafigura will provide global marketing and logistics capabilities, while Ascend Elements produces refined, low-carbon lithium carbonate produced from recycled lithium‑ion batteries and manufacturing scrap via its patented Hydro-to-Cathode process. The partnership supports Ascend Elements’ North American and European pipeline. Trafigura expands its portfolio of reliable, recycled materials it can place across its global customer base, supporting OEMs to meet circularity and compliance goals.

“Trafigura’s global platform paired with our Hydro-to-Cathode process turns circularity into supply security,” says Linh Austin, president and CEO of Ascend Elements. “Together we’ll deliver low-carbon, recycled lithium carbonate that is traceable, responsibly sourced, and available where customers build across the U.S. and Europe, reducing carbon, cost, and geopolitical risk while accelerating a resilient battery supply chain.”

As a market leader in the global commodities industry, Trafigura provides extensive market reach, logistics, and storage infrastructure to enable global distribution of Ascend Elements’ lithium carbonate.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Ascend Elements and supporting the circular economy,” says Gonzalo De Olazaval, global head of Metals and Minerals at Trafigura. “Ascend Elements’ patented process, which produces battery-grade lithium carbonate from domestic scrap, is advancing the development of domestic battery supply chains in the U.S. and Europe – a priority to ensure security of supply.”