India Bans Export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass from November 2026
Exports of lithium-ion battery black mass are now prohibited under DGFT notification 49/2026-27, with immediate effect until further orders.
- Document
- Press releases
- Dated
- 11 Nov 2026
- Effective
- Immediate effect, from Notification No. 49/2026-27 dated 10 November 2026, until further orders.
- Act by
- Immediate effect, from 10 November 2026, until further orders
This page was written by Patron Accounting’s AI from the official release and reviewed before publishing. It explains the document in plain language. It is not the document itself. Where this page and the original differ, the original governs.
The short version
- Lithium-ion battery black mass can no longer be exported from India.
- The ban took effect immediately under the 10 November 2026 notification.
- The ban stays in force until the government issues further orders.
- Transitional arrangements under Para 1.05 of FTP 2023 apply, but their terms are not stated here.
- The aim is to keep battery waste in India for recycling and critical mineral recovery.
In short
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which regulates India's exports, has banned exports of lithium-ion battery black mass. The government says the ban keeps this material in India so that domestic recyclers can recover lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese, reducing imports.
What has changed
How it worked before
Black mass was under the 'Free' export policy, so it could be exported without a ban.
What has changed
The export policy for this item has changed from 'Free' to 'Prohibited'. Shipments of this item cannot leave India, and the change applies immediately.
Who this affects
If you export lithium-ion battery black mass, or you run a battery recycling business that sells abroad. Black mass is the powder left after shredding old lithium-ion batteries.
An example
A battery recycling firm in Pune has a container of black mass booked for a buyer abroad. Under this notification, that container cannot leave India, and the firm must check whether the transitional arrangements cover it. The firm instead keeps the material for its own domestic refining unit.
What you should do
Stop sending this item abroad now. If you have cargo already in transit or waiting to leave, check how the transitional arrangements under Para 1.05 of FTP 2023 apply to it, because this document does not give their terms. The full notification is on the DGFT website, www.dgft.gov.in.
Deadline · Immediate effect, from 10 November 2026, until further ordersIf you do nothing
The document does not state any penalty. Exporting an item that is prohibited is not allowed under the export policy, so such a shipment would break the rule itself. Any consequences beyond that are not set out in this document.
The terms explained
- Black mass
- The powdery material left after shredding old lithium-ion batteries or battery manufacturing waste. It contains metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese that can be recovered.
- Critical minerals
- Metals and minerals that modern batteries, electric vehicles, electronics and renewable energy equipment depend on. India imports many of them.
- ITC(HS) code
- The number India's trade classification system gives to a product so customs and trade rules can identify it. This ban covers lithium-ion black mass under code 85491400.
- Transitional arrangements
- Temporary rules that decide how a new trade ban applies to goods already in progress. This document refers to them but does not explain their terms.
- Export policy 'Free' and 'Prohibited'
- 'Free' means goods can be exported without special permission. 'Prohibited' means they cannot be exported at all.
The original document
| Issued by | PIB |
|---|---|
| Document | Press releases |
| Full title | DGFT prohibits export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass to strengthen domestic recycling and critical mineral recovery |
| Issued on | 11 November 2026 |
| Effective | Immediate effect, from Notification No. 49/2026-27 dated 10 November 2026, until further orders. |
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