China Recovers Rubidium and Cesium From Lithium Processing - 500-Tonne Jiangxi Line Reaches Stable Production

Highlights

• A Jiangxi facility developed by CAS and Ganfeng Lithium has reached stable production of high-purity rubidium and cesium carbonates with 500-tonne annual capacity.
• The process reports over 98% cesium recovery and 95% rubidium recovery from lithium leach solutions, using 40% less extractant than conventional methods.
• The US was 100% net-import reliant on both cesium and rubidium in 2025, with China among the leading sources, highlighting a critical supply-chain vulnerability.
• No independently published operating data exists to verify throughput, unit costs, or long-term recovery stability of the Chinese process.
• Western nations are urged to audit existing lithium processing streams for recoverable strategic byproducts rather than relying solely on dedicated mining.