September 1, 2022: Belgian metals recycling and speciality chemicals group Campine said on August 29 that rising metal prices boosted its revenue for the first half of 2022 to €156.6 million ($157 million) — a 46% increase compared to the same period last year.

The company, which acquired two lead battery recycling plants from French lead recycler Recyclex in July, also announced Ebitda of €13.5 million, which it said was a record half-year result.

Campine sold 36,600 tonnes of lead during the period, which was an 8% rise in volume over the year-ago period and which contributed €7.3 million (a 60% increase over the previous period) to the Ebitda total.

The company said it had been able to increase production following the replacement of equipment that had limited output from its lead blast furnace in 2021.

Campine said LME lead metal cost an average of €2,070 per tonne in the first half of the year, compared to €1,720 per tonne a year earlier.

The acquisition of the Recyclex plants at Escaudoeuvres and Villefranche-sur-Saône from Recyclex, which have a combined annual recycling capacity of some 90,000 tonnes of used batteries, represents a “substantial upstream expansion” of Campine’s battery recycling capabilities, the company said.

CEO Wim De Vos said: “Thanks to the continued high demand for our products and the growing profit contribution from the recent investments, we continue our strong performance.”

But De Vos warned the rest of the year would be more difficult because of the global economic downturn and energy crisis, although the French acquisitions would have a positive effect.