EuRIC strongly rejects any proposals to introduce export fees or other export restrictions on recycled aluminium. The messages coming from aluminium producers are deceiving and it is as such important to clarify that the claims made by EU Aluminium do not represent the whole aluminium value chain. In particular, they reflect neither the concerns nor the interests of European aluminium recyclers.

 EuRIC, the voice of European recyclers, highlights that export fees or other measures foreseen to limit the exports of recycled aluminium beyond the EU would not support the European aluminium industry, but only put pressure on recyclers, undermining their economic viability. Additional limitations to open trade, while the enforcement of the revised rules under the Waste Shipping Regulation (WSR) are being implemented, would lead to a decline in recycling activities across the EU, job losses, and reduced investment in a sector that is vital to Europe’s decarbonisation goals and green re-industrialisation.

As aluminium producers report half of the EU’s primary aluminium plans were shut down between 2022 and 2023 due to the high energy prices and in 2023 more than half of Europe’s demand has been met by imports from countries with more carbon intensive energy mixes. Restrictions and limitations on the trade of recycled aluminium will not solve these problems. Most traded recycled aluminium grades are being exported because of insufficient allocation on the EU’s market. This is the case for instance of a mixture of aluminum alloys used by the automotive industry for the manufacturing of internal combustion engines (ICE), which are no longer produced in EU.

Deep dive: Misconceptions about EU-U.S. trade in recycled aluminium

Claims suggesting that Europe is exporting large volumes of recycled aluminium to the United States are not supported by data.

Eurostat figures clearly show that the EU remains a net importer of recycled aluminium from the U.S. In 2024, the EU imported 43,000 tons of recycled aluminium from the U.S., while exports to the U.S. stood at only 9,300 tons. In the first quarter of 2025, exports remained at low levels, ranging from just 1,200 to 2,000 tons per month. These figures are negligible when compared to the EU’s total recycled aluminium production of approximately 5 million tons annually.

Figure 1: EU-USA:Trade in aluminium scrap (2018–2024) in tonnes

U.S. market conditions remain unfavorable

Although the U.S. currently only imposes a 10% tariff on recycled aluminium, this has not made the U.S. market more attractive for EU exports. In fact, U.S. aluminium smelters have increased their discounts to offset the higher U.S. benchmark prices, while minimum tariffs and soaring freight costs have made U.S. prices no more attractive than European ones.

Most recycled aluminium is processed in the EU

Looking at the bigger picture, data reveal that the overall exports of recycled aluminium have not increased significantly over the recent years and that the bulk of all recycled aluminium (around 75% – 80%) is processed in the EU. A significant share what is exported consists of waste processed into zorba. This grade does not find sufficient allocation on the EU’s market as the mixture of aluminum alloys found in zorba, are used for instance by the automotive industry for the manufacturing of internal combustion engines (ICE), which are no longer produced in EU. Hence, due to a lack of local outlet for this product, recyclers are compelled to seek markets abroad where demand for zorba still exists.

Figure 2: EU foreign trade in aluminium scrap in the years 2018 to 2024 in tonnes

The need for investment and market certainty

Making the investments needed to improve the quality of some of the recycled requires stable market conditions. Due to the current economic slowdown and lack of consistent demand from EU producers, recyclers face significant uncertainty. To justify investment in higher-quality output, recyclers need stronger market signals and support.

A call for constructive solutions

Instead of restricting exports of recycled aluminium, actors of the whole value chain should look at other means to restoring EU’s industry competitiveness. This includes tackling high energy prices and burdensome administrative procedures. Only if free trade remains possible and recyclers can operate under predictable and favourable market conditions, their contribution to the decarbonisation of the European industry can be fully harnessed.