The Global Precious Metal Recovery Market was valued at USD 17.2 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 26.8 Billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily driven by soaring demand for gold, silver, and platinum group metals (PGMs), stringent environmental regulations promoting recycling, and the economic imperative of securing critical raw materials through urban mining.
As industries worldwide intensify their focus on sustainability and resource security, the spotlight is on the key players in precious metal recovery who are driving technological innovation and circular economy principles. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Precious Metal Recovery Industry—a mix of global refiners, specialized recyclers, and chemical giants shaping the future of metal reclamation.
🔟 1. Umicore
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Key Offering: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium recycling and refining
Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group, renowned as one of the world’s largest recyclers of precious metals. The company operates advanced smelting and refining facilities that process complex waste streams from end-of-life automotive catalysts, electronics (e-waste), and industrial residues.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Pioneering closed-loop recycling models for automotive catalysts
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Investments in hydrometallurgical processes for lower emissions
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Committed to carbon neutrality across operations by 2035
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9️⃣ 2. Johnson Matthey
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: PGMs (Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium) recovery, Advanced refining services
Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies, with a strong precious metal refining division. The company specializes in recovering PGMs from spent automotive catalysts, chemical process catalysts, and electronic components, serving clients across the automotive, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Leader in circular economy solutions for the auto industry
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Developing novel solvent extraction technologies for higher purity recovery
8️⃣ 3. Heraeus
Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Key Offering: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium recycling from industrial and dental waste
Heraeus is a technology group with a centuries-old heritage in precious metals. Its recycling division operates globally, recovering precious metals from a wide array of sources, including industrial catalysts, electronic scrap, and dental alloys, with a strong focus on high-purity output for high-tech applications.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Digital precious metal management platforms for traceability
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Focus on energy-efficient induction melting technologies
7️⃣ 4. BASF Metal Resource Recovery
Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: PGM recovery from spent catalysts, Battery metal recycling
BASF’s metal resource recovery business leverages the company’s extensive chemical expertise to develop innovative recycling processes. It focuses on recovering precious and battery metals from complex waste streams, particularly from the automotive and energy storage sectors, supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Integrated battery recycling value chain development
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Partnerships with automakers for closed-loop catalyst recycling
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6️⃣ 5. Sims Lifecycle Services (A Sims Limited Company)
Headquarters: West Chicago, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: E-waste recycling, IT asset disposition, Precious metal recovery from electronics
Sims Lifecycle Services is a leader in electronics reuse and recycling, offering comprehensive IT asset disposition and e-waste processing services. The company recovers significant quantities of gold, silver, and palladium from printed circuit boards and other electronic components through a global network of facilities.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Zero-waste-to-landfill goals at key facilities
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Data security-certified destruction and recycling processes
5️⃣ 6. Dowa Holdings
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Gold, Silver, PGMs recovery from e-waste and industrial by-products
Dowa Eco-System, a part of Dowa Holdings, is a major player in metal recycling in Japan and internationally. The company operates advanced smelting and refining facilities that process electronic scrap, automobile shredder residue, and other metal-bearing wastes, contributing to Japan’s resource-efficient society goals.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Development of urban mines through systematic e-waste collection
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High-efficiency recovery technologies for trace precious metals
4️⃣ 7. Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tanaka Precious Metals)
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Comprehensive recycling of Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
Tanaka is a leading precious metal specialist in Japan, offering a full range of services from refining to recycling. The company recovers precious metals from industrial catalysts, jewelry, dental materials, and electronic components, with a strong reputation for high-purity output and reliable refining services.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Promotion of “urban mining” concept in Asia
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Investment in recycling technologies for new energy applications
3️⃣ 8. Materion Corporation
Headquarters: Mayfield Heights, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: High-purity precious metal recovery for aerospace, medical, and electronics sectors
Materion’s Advanced Materials Group includes a sophisticated precious metal recycling operation that caters to high-tech industries. The company specializes in recovering and refining precious metals from manufacturing scrap and end-of-life products where material purity is critical, such as in medical devices and aerospace components.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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Closed-loop recycling programs for key industrial customers
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Focus on reducing the environmental footprint of high-performance materials
2️⃣ 9. Abington Reldan Metals, Ltd.
Headquarters: Rowan County, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Precious metal refining from electronic scrap, catalytic converters, and industrial waste
Abington Reldan Metals is a specialized precious metal refiner with a strong focus on the North American market. The company provides comprehensive recycling services for businesses generating precious metal-bearing waste, offering transparent assay-based settlement and environmentally sound processing.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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EPA-compliant recycling processes
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Customer-focused take-back and recycling programs
1️⃣ 10. Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Kunming, Yunnan, China
Key Offering: Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) recovery and refining
Sino-Platinum Metals is China’s leading producer and recycler of platinum group metals. The company plays a strategic role in securing PGMs for China’s growing automotive, chemical, and electronics industries, operating integrated mining and recycling operations to ensure a stable supply of these critical materials.
Sustainability Initiatives:
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National strategic focus on PGM resource security
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Investment in advanced smelting and refining technologies
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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Precious Metal Recovery Is High-Tech and Circular
The precious metal recovery market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional pyrometallurgical processes remain foundational, the industry is rapidly embracing hydrometallurgical and biometallurgical technologies, digital tracking systems, and integrated circular business models.
📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:
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Rise of urban mining as a supplement to primary production
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Increasing regulatory mandates for e-waste and catalyst recycling
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Digitalization of supply chains with blockchain for material traceability
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Growing corporate commitments to circular economy principles
Get Full Report Here: Precious Metal Recovery Market – View in Detailed Research Report
The companies listed above are not only recovering valuable materials—they’re building the infrastructure for a resource-efficient future where waste becomes a valuable resource.
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