Germany's aluminium scrap export to grow 9.7% YoY in 2018; export revenue on the rise on improved prices

Germany, a major aluminium market in Europe and home to the world’s largest automakers, contributes 25% of total aluminium consumption in Europe is one of the leading scrap exporters in the world. German aluminium processors produce about 300,000 tonnes of recycled aluminium. The country's automotive sector generates a large amount of aluminium scrap. Other than recovering secondary aluminium from the scrap domestically, the country also exports substantial amount of scrap every year.

According to the recent estimate, in 2016, Germany exported 1,094,607 tonnes of aluminium scrap globally. The total revenue from scrap export amounts to about US$ 1.1 billion. Compared to 2016, in 2017, Germany exported an estimated 1,082,473 tonnes of aluminium scrap, slightly down YoY. The total revenue from the export increased to US$ 1.2 billion for the estimated volume. 

The increase in revenue despite the fall in shipment was attributed to improved international prices for aluminium and aluminium scrap in 2017. For the year 2018, Germany is estimated to export 1,187,441 tonnes of aluminium scrap, an increase from both 2016 and 2017. The volume registered a 9.7% increase YoY. The revenue also increased to US$ 1.3 billion. The country is expected to export more in 2018 and 2019 on growing demand for recycled aluminium.

Germany exports the major part of its aluminium scrap to the EU countries. Austria remains the top aluminium scrap importer from Germany followed by Italy and Poland. According to figures released by the EU statistics office Eurostat, aluminium scrap shipments from the EU member states to non-EU countries have been on the rise in last three years. Considering the fact that China has imposed heavy tariffs on aluminium scrap imports from the U.S., Germany is expected to export more to the country,