May 29, 2025: European metals recycling and speciality chemicals group Campine has posted a record turnover of €365 million ($413 million) for last year — boosted by low lead battery scrap prices.

Belgium-based Campine, which acquired two lead battery recycling plants from French recycler Recyclex in 2022, said demand for lead metal used in new batteries in its circular metals business unit was moderate during 2024, mainly due to a weak automotive market in Europe.
However, the group, which also reported record overall EBITDA of €42 million, said on March 12 the low automotive demand allowed it to buy its battery scrap at lower prices.

EBITDA in the circular metals unit (comprising Pb, metals recovery and recycled battery operations) was more than €27 million, an increase of 22% over the previous year.

Around 114,000 tonnes of sales were recorded as of the end of last year, representing a decrease of about 10% compared to 2023. The fall was entirely attributable to lower output at Campine’s Escaudoeuvres facility in France, as a result of a four-month production outage following a fire.

Meanwhile, the group said its Beerse factory realised similar high sales volumes as last year of about 61,000 tons of lead alloys.

For 2025, Campine said the availability of battery scrap as of March was abundant and, unless market circumstances change drastically in the coming months, the group expects “another solid year”.