The EU exported nearly 19 million tonnes of scrap metal in 2025, accounting for over half the bloc’s total recyclable raw materials exports.
Egypt and India respectively bought over 1.3 million and 850,000 tonnes of scrap metal.
Last-minute concerns over the EU’s trade deal with India led the European Commission to withdraw planned export duties on aluminum scrap earlier this month.
India is a major importer of aluminum scrap. The country last year exported over 350,000 tons of aluminum scrap alone.
The executive was due to present an instrument to slow exports of cheap aluminum scrap to buyers outside the single market, keeping prices down for aluminum producers and users within the bloc. The European aluminum sector has pushed for priority access to local scrap.
EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said, however, that the EU would scrap the measure after it became clear it would only cover around half of the bloc’s aluminum scrap exports and decided to pursue a solution “entirely independent” of trade policy instruments.
Egypt and India will still be able to export other scrap materials, including paper, wood, rubber, and textile waste.
The Commission will consult on the suggested country exemptions until October 16, before adopting the final list in November, as required under the regulation.