Japan's aluminium scrap imports from EU jump 90% in Q1’26 despite soaring prices

Stock image for referential purposes only

Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the European Union in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 have reported an almost 90 per cent year-on-year surge.

In Q1 2026, Japan imported a total of 35,794 tonnes of aluminium scrap, of which 3,613 tonnes or 10.09 per cent, was imported from the EU.

Delve deeper into the recycled aluminium and secondary aluminium market with our World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032

Comparing the Q1 volume over the years, a rising streak can be noted in Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the EU:

Q1 2026 – 3,613 tonnes, rising 89 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,902 tonnes in Q1 2025

Q1 2025 – 1,902 tonnes, rising 40 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,357 tonnes in Q1 2024

Concurrently, the annual shipment volume from the EU to Japan has witnessed a sharp Y-o-Y surge to 9,346 tonnes in 2025 from 5,815 tonnes in 2024.

According to the data recorded in the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Q1 import value of Japan’s aluminium scrap from the EU is worth USD 3.26 million, marking a Y-o-Y gain of 45.54 per cent from USD 2.24 million recorded in Q1 2025.  

Hence, Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the EU in Q1 2026 have risen Y-o-Y despite an almost 50 per cent hike in the pricing segment.

Unlock key insights from leading companies and experts across the aluminium ecosystem with our e-Magazine - Mine to Market: ALuminium Producers & Manufacturers 2026

Japan’s import volume accounted for about 3.58 per cent of the EU’s total export volume of 100,988 tonnes.

As of Q1 2026, the EU ranks third among the top three overseas aluminium scrap sources for Japan. The top 2 sources are:

The US – 15,907 tonnes or 44.44 per cent of the total

Taiwan – 8,187 tonnes or 22.87 per cent of the total