POSCO Group has entered into a strategic partnership with China's Ronbay Group, a global leader in cathode materials, to foster comprehensive cooperation across the secondary battery materials sector, including the supply of battery-grade lithium.
POSCO Holdings announced on August 19, 2026, that it held an official signing ceremony at the POSCO Center in Seoul to formalize a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ronbay Group. The agreement spans the entire battery materials value chain, encompassing the supply of hard-rock (ore) and brine-based lithium, as well as collaboration on spent-battery recycling.
Comprehensive Lithium Supply and Quality Certification
Under this new partnership, POSCO Group will leverage its diverse production channels to supply battery-grade lithium. The supply network includes hard-rock lithium from POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution located in the Yulchon Industrial Complex of South Jeolla Province, brine-based lithium produced by POSCO Argentina, and recycled lithium extracted from spent batteries by POSCO HY Clean Metal.
A primary milestone of the collaboration focuses on battery-grade lithium hydroxide derived from hard-rock lithium. Both companies plan to finalize the quality certification process for product output from POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution by the fourth quarter of the year, thereby setting the groundwork for full-scale commercial mass supply.
Strengthening Global Resource Circulation and Recycling
Beyond primary lithium supply, the two enterprises have committed to reinforcing resource circulation systems by establishing a closed-loop network for global spent-battery recovery and recycling. Synergies are already visible: POSCO HY Clean Metal currently supplies vital cathode precursors—such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese—to Ronbay Group’s operations in China and to EMT, Ronbay's domestic precursor subsidiary in Korea. Building upon this foundation, both firms aim to expand reciprocal supply chains and environmental resource management.
Ronbay Group has long maintained a dominant market position in high-nickel cathode materials backed by advanced technologies and robust production capacities. Recently, the Chinese firm has aggressively broadened its product portfolio to include lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), and sodium-ion battery materials. In alignment with Ronbay's product diversification, POSCO Group intends to extend cooperation into broader energy storage system (ESS) applications and alternative battery material segments.
Strategic Significance and Future Outlook
Industry analysts note that this strategic alliance carries profound symbolic and practical value. By securing supply pathways into China—the world’s largest producer of secondary battery materials—POSCO Group has successfully demonstrated the global competitiveness and reliability of its self-reliant lithium value chain, which bridges upstream raw materials to downstream products.
Ever since Chairman Chang In-hwa took the helm, POSCO Group has aggressively advanced a resource-centric, proactive investment strategy alongside targeted sales frameworks designed to capture new demand in high-growth markets. Group officials emphasize that the collaboration with Ronbay Group serves as a crucial turning point to diversify the global battery materials landscape while firmly securing Korea’s standing as a premier provider of critical national resources.
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