Critical Minerals Outlook: Market Trends, Recycling and the Road Ahead
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
2026 has emerged as a pivotal year for battery supply chains, marked by unprecedented volatility across raw material markets. A combination of geopolitical tensions, export controls, production quotas, onshoring strategies, and speculative trading activity has disrupted pricing structures and created significant uncertainty for stakeholders across the battery value chain.
This session will provide a clear and data-driven analysis of the forces behind this turbulence, unpacking how these pressures are reshaping the availability, cost, and strategic importance of key battery materials. It will explore how market dynamics are evolving in response to policy shifts and industrial strategies, with a focus on the implications for manufacturers, investors, and policymakers.
A key theme of the presentation will be the growing role of recycling and secondary supply, particularly as primary markets face constraints. Attendees will gain insight into how recent developments have influenced recycling economics, black mass demand, and the structure of emerging circular value chains. Special attention will be given to the UK’s evolving position, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in building domestic recycling capability.
The session will conclude with an introduction to Benchmark’s new black mass payable forecast, offering a forward-looking perspective on how value will be distributed across recycling markets and what this means for future investment and strategy.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the key drivers behind 2026’s volatility in battery raw material markets
- How shifting market dynamics are accelerating the importance of recycling and secondary supply chains
- Insights into the UK’s position and opportunities within the evolving battery recycling landscape
- What emerging trends mean for pricing, investment, and long-term supply security
- Introduction to black mass payables and their role in shaping future recycling economics