Destinations for the EU’s aluminium scrap exports in Q1 2026 – India and Thailand top the list despite annual declines

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The European Union is one of the largest generators and collectors of aluminium scrap in the world, with over 80 per cent recycling rate. The demand is also robust, with an average annual volume of 8 million tonnes. Yet, the European Union exports 1.26 million tonnes of scrap during a year, which reflects 15 per cent of the volume collected domestically. The European Commission has introduced legislation to restrict exports of aluminium scrap in the coming years. However, the European Aluminium has urged that there is no evidence to suggest a shortage of scrap, and the numbers agree with the notion. The association indicates that any legislation that impedes exports will also cause a decline in domestic collection rates since price mechanisms would break down entirely. The European Union exported 328,134 tonnes of aluminium scrap in Q1 2026, according to the Eurostat data. Let’s take a look at where this aluminium scrap is headed.

Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, and Italy are the top five EU countries driving the aluminium scrap exports destined to India, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Turkey and many others.

India tops the list with reduced import volume

India remained the largest importer of aluminium scrap from the European Union during the first quarter of 2026, even though their imports declined sequentially. From January to March 2026, India imported 88,205 tonnes of aluminium scrap, down by 7.27 per cent from 95,122 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.