As autumn brings auspicious news, GEM’s cobalt steps into a new realm. Recently, the GEM-CO branded cobalt product of GEM Co., Ltd. officially passed the London Metal Exchange (LME) audit and was listed by LME as “Good Delivery” against the Cobalt Contract. Mr. John Williamson, CEO of LME, personally presented the certification to Mr. Zhou Bo, Executive Deputy General Manager of GEM. This recognition signifies that GEM’s cobalt products have fully met LME’s highest standards in terms of quality, compliance, and sustainability. It marks strong global recognition of GEM’s supply chain capabilities and brand reputation. The certification not only affirms GEM’s long-standing strategy of “technology-led, quality-first,” but also represents a key achievement of GEM’s customer-focused value creation approach, laying a solid foundation for GEM’s cobalt products to further compete globally and integrate into international green supply chains.

▲ GEM-CO branded cobalt products officially listed by LME as “Good Delivery” against the Cobalt Contract 

▲ Mr. John Williamson, CEO of LME, presents the certificate to GEM

As the world’s largest and most established non-ferrous metals trading platform, the LME’s “Good Delivery” designation is a key indicator of product quality and supply chain reliability. LME certification means that GEM-CO cobalt products meet world-class standards in chemical composition, physical form, packaging and transport, and delivery procedures, making them eligible and reputable for use in futures contract settlements worldwide. 

This designation not only serves as a “passport” for GEM’s cobalt products to enter the global market but also highlights the increasing global influence and competitiveness of Chinese enterprises in the critical non-ferrous metals sector.

Since its founding, GEM has adhered to the concept of “Limited Resources, Unlimited Recycling,” focusing on the R&D and industrialization of recycling technologies for critical metals such as cobalt, nickel, tungsten, germanium, and lithium. Since 2003, GEM has dedicated itself to the recycling and industrial application of cobalt, establishing a full-lifecycle value chain for cobalt that covers collection, regeneration, and remanufacturing. GEM has successfully built a global brand of recycled cobalt products through a process of “recycling—replacing primary ore—Chinese premium brand—world-class brand,” turning cobalt waste into high-quality products sold to leading global companies. In 2016, GEM acquired SHU POWDERS SA, a manufacturer of ultrafine cobalt powder, enabling the GEM to expand urban mining internationally and spread its green technology worldwide.

After more than two decades of development, GEM has become the world’s largest cobalt recycling enterprise, with four major cobalt recycling and producing bases located in Jingmen and Taixing (China), Central Sulawesi (Indonesia), and South Africa. GEM boasts an annual cobalt refining capacity of 50,000 metal tons, with high-purity cobalt plate capacity of 11,000 tons, ultrafine cobalt powder capacity of 6,000 tons, and battery-grade Co3O4 capacity of 25,000 tons. GEM is now the world’s largest manufacturer of ultrafine cobalt powder and a global leader in high-voltage battery-grade Co3O4 and high-purity cobalt plate. Its cobalt products are embedded in the core supply chains of leading global companies such as ATL, Sandvik, Kennametal, Samsung, XTC, and CMT, supporting the global hard alloy industry and 3C product sectors including mobile phone and laptop batteries.

In 2024, GEM recycled 10,128 tons of cobalt, exceeding China’s domestic cobalt mining output by 350%. In the same year, GEM shipped 20,664 tons of Co3O4, accounting for over 20% of the global 3C electronics market, ranking second worldwide. Ultrafine cobalt powder shipments reached about 5,000 tons, securing more than 50% of the global hard alloy market and maintaining the No. 1 position for 12 consecutive years. High-purity cobalt plate shipments reached about 8,000 tons, with a market share of more than 50% in Europe. Both Co3O4 and ultrafine cobalt powder were recognized as “Single-item Champion” products by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of People’s Republic of China.

In terms of innovation and R&D, GEM adheres to the strategy of “technology-led, quality-first,” and has developed its unique innovation formula: “Super Talent + Super Equipment + Super Innovation = Super Technology.” GEM has established three national-level innovation platforms: the National Engineering Research Center of WEEE Recycling, the Key Laboratory of National Energy Metal Resources and New Materials, and the National Enterprise Technology Center. These platforms have attracted numerous master’s and doctoral researchers, as well as senior engineers, to engage in scientific research and technological breakthroughs, propelling GEM’s innovation capability to the forefront of the global industry.

On the technical front, GEM has tackled key challenges in the recycling of complex cobalt resources and has been granted over 300 global patents. In 2010, GEM’s project titled “Key Technologies and Industrial Application of Recycling Cobalt and Nickel from Waste Materials” was awarded the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, establishing GEM’s leadership in the field of cobalt resource recycling.

In terms of quality control, GEM has implemented a “zero-defect” strategy, comprehensively upgrading its processes and management standards to achieve precision control at the parts-per-billion (PPb) level, entering what the industry refers to as a “a quality territory yet unexplored by others.” Being listed as an LME Good Delivery is a powerful testament to GEM’s customer-centric philosophy in the global market, and a pivotal step toward GEM’s goal of becoming a world-class green and low-carbon industrial group.

Looking ahead, GEM will continue to uphold the concept of “Limited resources, unlimited recycling”, deepening strategic cooperation with global partners. By advancing the recycling of cobalt, nickel, tungsten, lithium, germanium and other critical metals, GEM aims to build a more integrated global industrial chain, jointly address market fluctuations in critical minerals, and enhance the global competitiveness of critical mineral supply chains. In doing so, GEM will contribute China’s strength and wisdom to the high-quality development of the global new energy and hard alloy industries, and to building a sustainable future for humanity.