Li-Cycle and Glencore Finalize Off-Take Agreement for Rochester Hub Production
Li-Cycle Holdings has strengthened its partnership with global commodities giant Glencore by finalizing a commercial agreement for the off-take of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) produced at the Rochester Hub. This strategic deal ensures that Glencore will take 100% of the MHP output from the Rochester facility, which includes valuable metals like nickel and cobalt.
The Rochester Hub, located in upstate New York, is Li-Cycle’s flagship facility for processing black mass—a key intermediate product generated from recycling lithium-ion batteries. Under the agreement, Li-Cycle will produce up to 72,000 tonnes of MHP annually, along with an estimated 8,250 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate. The MHP will be sold to Glencore on market terms, providing an assured revenue stream and helping Li-Cycle secure financing from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The amended agreement is part of a broader strategy to establish a reliable supply chain for battery materials in North America, and it reflects the deepening partnership between Li-Cycle and Glencore. The off-take deal comes at a crucial moment for Li-Cycle, as the company is in the final stages of securing a loan under the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. These funds will support the expansion of its recycling infrastructure, helping meet growing demand for electric vehicle battery components.
“This amended agreement with Glencore not only validates the commercial potential of the Rochester Hub but also aligns us closely with a major industry player as we work to create a sustainable and scalable battery supply chain,” said Ajay Kochhar, President and CEO of Li-Cycle. “It provides us with a strong foundation as we move forward in securing the DOE loan, which is critical for our expansion plans.”
Glencore’s Global Head of Recycling, Kunal Sinha, emphasized the importance of this partnership for the global battery ecosystem: “We see Li-Cycle as an essential partner in building a closed-loop battery materials supply chain, and this agreement marks another step towards ensuring that key battery metals remain available to meet rising demand.”
The Rochester Hub is expected to play a key role in reducing reliance on primary mining for battery materials, as it aims to recycle valuable metals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The facility has a nameplate processing capacity of 35,000 tonnes of black mass annually, which will ultimately be converted into products like MHP and lithium carbonate—crucial components for electric vehicle batteries.
