European Commission Prepares Targeted Measures on Aluminium Scrap Exports as Industry Debate Intensifies

The European Commission has proposed new restrictions on scrap aluminium exports as part of a broader effort to manage critical raw materials within the EU EU. In November, the Commission stated that it planned to restrict the export of scrap aluminium to prevent the metal from flooding out of the European Union and leaving its domestic industry short. Following these initial plans, the Commission has confirmed it will propose targeted measures for aluminium scrap by the second quarter of this year.

The proposal has sparked a significant debate among industry stakeholders regarding the necessity and potential impact of such trade barriers. The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), which represents 37 national recycling federations, has described the idea of an EUexport ban or any trade restriction on aluminium scrap as neither necessary nor effective. The organization submitted this feedback to the public consultation of the EU, which remained open until the end of January.