Spent batteries and accumulators trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in spent batteries and accumulators was worth $1.97 billion in 2024, about 2.16 million tonnes. That is an increase of 16% since 2017, and up 3% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.97B | 2.16M t |
| 2023 | $1.91B | 2.04M t |
| 2022 | $1.67B | 1.70M t |
| 2021 | $1.80B | 1.92M t |
| 2020 | $1.37B | 1.54M t |
| 2019 | $1.70B | 1.79M t |
| 2018 | $1.76B | 1.63M t |
| 2017 | $1.70B | 1.61M t |
Top spent batteries and accumulators exporting countries
Exports are led by the United States (47%), France (4%) and the Netherlands (4%). 161 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 55%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $926.5M | 47% |
| France | $79.0M | 4% |
| Netherlands | $73.5M | 3.7% |
| Canada | $67.0M | 3.4% |
| Italy | $63.4M | 3.2% |
| Yemen | $60.0M | 3.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $57.1M | 2.9% |
| Germany | $52.4M | 2.7% |
| Dominican Republic | $37.2M | 1.9% |
| United Kingdom | $28.0M | 1.4% |
| Romania | $26.1M | 1.3% |
| Singapore | $23.0M | 1.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
South Korea is the biggest buyer with 24% of world imports, ahead of Mexico and India. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 67% across 113 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $464.9M | 24% |
| Mexico | $434.5M | 22% |
| India | $410.2M | 21% |
| Bulgaria | $81.8M | 4.2% |
| Spain | $72.9M | 3.7% |
| Germany | $69.9M | 3.6% |
| Belgium | $59.6M | 3% |
| Canada | $50.3M | 2.6% |
| Sweden | $45.2M | 2.3% |
| Czech Republic | $33.0M | 1.7% |
| United Kingdom | $18.8M | 1% |
| Greece | $17.4M | 0.9% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.91 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United Arab Emirates averaged $1.28 per kg and the Netherlands $0.55 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Spent batteries and accumulators (HS 8548.10) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8548.10: Waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators: spent primary cells, spent primary batteries and spent electric accumulators. HS 8548 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most spent batteries and accumulators?
The United States exported $926.5 million in 2024, 47% of the world total, followed by France (4%) and the Netherlands (4%). In all, 161 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most spent batteries and accumulators?
South Korea imported $464.9 million in 2024, 24% of world imports, ahead of Mexico (22%) and India (21%). The top three importers together take 67%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in spent batteries and accumulators?
It was worth $1.97 billion in 2024, about 2.16 million tonnes. That is an increase of 16% since 2017. 2024 was the highest year since 2017. 161 countries reported exports and 113 reported imports.
What is the average price of spent batteries and accumulators per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.91 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United Arab Emirates averaged $1.28 per kg and the Netherlands $0.55 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for spent batteries and accumulators?
The HS code for spent batteries and accumulators is subheading 8548.10, in chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 8548 page.
How can I find spent batteries and accumulators buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading spent batteries and accumulators, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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