Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
The US aluminium used beverage can (UBC) scrap price benchmark tracked by Argus recorded a mixed performance over the third quarter of 2026, declining in July before rising in August and September. The monthly average increased from USD 2,322.89 per tonne in July to USD 2,491.22 per tonne in August and USD 2,602.51 per tonne in September, indicating a sustained recovery in the benchmark over the three months. July: Prices decline despite a high opening The benchmark began July at USD 2,464.98 per tonne on July 1, before falling sharply to USD 2,270.76 per tonne on July 3. The price remained at that level on July 2 and July 6, the lowest recorded price for the month. It subsequently recovered gradually, reaching USD 2,319.86 per tonne on July 10 and USD 2,328.63 per tonne on July 22....
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The demand for aluminium scrap in India is on the rise, standing at 2.5 million tonnes (approx.) , driven by increasing focus on circular economy principles and the need for sustainable manufacturing practices. As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry data, India imported a total of 0.42 million tonnes of aluminium scrap during Q1 2025, jumping from 0.34 million tonnes in Q1 2024. If India continues to import in the same way, then the scenario may come to 1.6 million tonnes every year out of the 2.5 million tonnes. In Q1 2025 India imported a total of 45,661 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the UAE, recording a surge of 20.37 per cent from 37,931 tonnes in Q1 2024. The other two regions that showed considerable growth were Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. During Q1 2025, India...
In a bold and decisive operation, the Selangor Customs Department, part of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD), has once again emerged as a formidable force against smuggling. With its latest high-stakes interception, the department has reinforced its reputation as a game-changer in the ongoing battle to curb illegal trade and protect Malaysia’s borders. The department has recently thwarted a major smuggling attempt involving 1,964 tonnes of scrap metal valued at RM9.17 million. A total of 83 containers were seized within the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). The operation has been going on for over two months since May in coordination with the National Targeting Centre (NTC). According to Selangor Customs director Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi, out of the goods, most of them were...
At first glance, a pile of empty soda cans might seem insignificant, but for Erie Trap and Release, those aluminium scraps are a vital resource. This dedicated local non-profit organisation is on a mission to humanely manage Erie’s feral cat population through a trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme. Image for representational purpose Their work involves nurturing stray cats, by providing essential medical treatments such as spaying, neutering, and vaccinations, and then returning the animals safely to their outdoor homes. But providing this level of care requires funding. Rather than seeking traditional donations, the organisation is asking for something a little more surprising: your used aluminium cans. Aluminium is not just recyclable, it’s infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be...
In a huge crackdown on illegal waste processing, the Malaysian government has raided an unlicensed e-waste factory in the Bukit Rambai industrial estate, confiscating about 300 tonnes of aluminium ingots worth an estimated RM2.1 million (USD 445,000). The raid spotlights an emerging and lethal trend whereby toxic electronic waste is imported illegally to be processed for precious metals. Details of the raid The raid on July 15 was the culmination of a multi-agency operation between the Royal Malaysia Police, the Department of Environment, and the Inland Revenue Board after a week-long surveillance. Within the unlicensed plant, authorities found stacks of aluminium ingots on pallets, smelted from an enormous collection of waste electronics. It might have been destined for China, where...
In a significant step for Europe’s energy and circular economy ambitions, French transmission system operator RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité) and cable technology giant Nexans have officially initiated the first-ever industrial-scale aluminium recycling project in France for high and extra high-voltage power cables. The project is part of a partnership that began in 2024 and exemplifies how circularity and decarbonisation can work synergistically to reconfigure Europe’s energy infrastructure. Closing the loop: a European first For the first time, aluminium from decommissioned transmission wires will be completely recycled and incorporated back into RTE's grid. This project will recycle around 600 metric tonnes of aluminium a year and will save at least 400 metric tonnes of CO₂...
While the United States witnessed a modest uptick in aluminium imports during Q1 2025, aluminium exports took a noticeable plunge. Not by a marginal 10,000 or 20,000 tonnes, but a steep 95,000 tonnes year-on-year. From 854,000 tonnes in Q1 2024, US aluminium exports (including scrap) shrank to 759,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, marking an 11 per cent annual decline. This decline, however, isn’t evenly spread across all aluminium product categories or destinations, and it raises questions about the underlying shifts in global aluminium trade dynamics. Exports across the board According to recent figures from the US Geological Survey, the fall in aluminium exports touched all categories - crude metal and alloy, semi-fabricated products, and even scrap, though to varying degrees. Crude metal and...
The Brussels-based European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) has voiced strong opposition to a proposed ban on recycled aluminium exports from the EU. On the flip side, several other European industry groups are pushing for tighter controls, citing growing concerns over aluminium scrap leakage. What's fueling this split in opinion?. The recycling organisation, amidst the rising demand for safeguard measures urged by the majority of the EU scrap exporters, have enunciated that the low aluminium scrap export volume indicates a restriction to the trade, providing no solution for the trade and energy concerns of the aluminium producers in the EU. Owing to the previous messages of the European aluminium producers and organisations, the association states that it is deceiving, as it...
Three major aluminium giants, Capral, Rio Tinto and Sims Metals, have successfully collaborated to have a closed-loop aluminium recycling plant in Queensland, Australia, giving tribute to the "Made in Australia" gesture. Image source: capral.com.au In this collaboration, Capral's Bremer Park facility will provide post-production aluminium scrap, which will be further sorted and processed by Sims Metal and later be delivered to Rio Tinto's Boyne Smelter in Gladstone for remelting. These scraps are estimated to produce more than 1,000 tonnes of aluminium, with the recycled content being at 20 per cent, and then would be supplied back to Capral's Bremer Park manufacturing site located in Southeast Queensland to indulge in extrusion operations, aiding in establishing a recycling solution...
Minnesota’s manufacturing landscape is undergoing a major transformation, with EGA Spectro Alloys at the forefront. The company’s newly completed $71 million expansion in Rosemount marks a significant milestone with the construction of a new aluminium recycling plant in the region. Image Source: Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune The construction is not only important for the business, but also crucial for the region and the nation’s aluminium supply chain, and the broader push toward sustainability and the circular economy. With the addition of a 90,000-square-foot facility, Spectro Alloys has become one of only about 40 plants in the United States capable of producing recycled aluminium billets. Long, solid poles of aluminium that are essential for industries ranging from...
The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) has pledged to assist Welsh councils in readiness for the implementation of the UK's new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme in 2025. Given that Wales is already ahead of the UK when it comes to recycling, Alupro is putting its skills and successful behavioural change schemes at the disposal of councils to guide them through the new regime and increase further aluminium recycling rates. This follows a conference conducted a few months ago on this matter. What does the initiative include? Under the new EPR rules, packaging manufacturers will pay financially for the whole net cost of gathering and recycling their packaging when it ends up as waste. This 'polluter pays' concept is intended to encourage more...
Sustainability is at the heart of everything Nespresso does. The company is committed to making a positive impact on both people and the planet while continuing to offer customers some of the finest coffees in the world. In keeping with this philosophy, Nespresso Canada and Éco Entreprises Québec are set to expand their ‘green bag’ coffee capsule recycling program to cover all municipalities across Quebec. The initiative aims to make recycling easier for consumers while aligning with the province’s new extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations. As selective collection systems undergo modernisation in Quebec, Nespresso customers are encouraged to place their used coffee capsules in the green recycling bags. These bags are provided free with every Nespresso online order and are...
The Pahang Customs Department is proving to be a formidable force in Malaysia's ongoing battle against smuggling, striking yet again with the recent interception of seven containers packed with electronic waste (e-waste) and aluminium scrap worth an estimated MYR 4.4 million (USD 937,200) at Port Klang, Selangor. The high-stakes operation, carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Department of Environment (DoE), exposed the importer's attempt to dodge regulations by falsely declaring the e-waste as "copper concentrate" to avoid the required import permit. State Customs Director Mohd Asri Seman confirmed that further investigations revealed the shipments lacked both proper permits and accurate customs declarations. "The importer had falsely declared the e-waste as' copper...
Germany-based TOMRA Recycling welcomed Katrin Fricke as the new Executive Vice President (EVP) and Head, ushering in a new era of growth and a fresh chapter for the company. Succeeding Dr Volker Rehrmann, whose remarkable career with TOMRA spanned more than two decades, Katrin has expressed gratitude, stating, "A big thank you to Dr Volker Rehrmann for the thoughtful handover. I'm honoured to continue writing the story of TOMRA Recycling alongside a great team of experts, and I'm excited about what lies ahead." Katrin Fricke brings a wealth of leadership experience to her new role, having held key positions across diverse industries with a strong focus on operations management, corporate strategy, and digital transformation. With a background in production engineering and a passion for...
Southern Tasmania is placing greater emphasis on recycling. The region already known for aluminium recycling and green movements has unlocked another significant achievement in Goodwood with the opening of its first bulk recycling depot. Inaugurated on Wednesday, July 2, the recycling depot provides locals with a convenient drive-through location to exchange drink containers like aluminium, plastic, glass, etc., for 10-cent refunds while supporting employment for people with disability. “This collaboration with SEED is a terrific example of the extended community benefit potential of Tasmania’s container refund scheme. [The depot] provides employment, training and fundraising opportunities for people with disability, all while creating clean streams of recycling and helping keep our...
On Tuesday, July 1, Formosa Smart Energy (FSET) announced the completion of Taiwan’s first integrated demonstration line for recycling LFP batteries (Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries), uniting front-end physical crushing with back-end chemical extraction. As the global surge in energy storage systems and electric vehicles (EVs) leads to a growing number of retired batteries, recovering valuable metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminium, etc., through recycling has become an essential strategy for strengthening supply chain resilience and ensuring resource security worldwide. By establishing its own demonstration line, FSET has successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate suitable for direct use in lithium battery manufacturing. This achievement supports national policies...
Neveah Limited has officially commenced operations at its advanced aluminium and copper recycling facility in Ogun State. During its inaugural production run, the plant successfully delivered its first batch of aluminium ingots achieving a notable purity level of 85.1 per cent, a strong reflection of the high-quality standards Neveah aims to maintain as it scales up operations. Neveah Limited’s recycling facility in Ogun State is set to produce ADC 12-grade aluminium ingots for both domestic and international markets. Sourced from recycled aluminium scrap such as used car engine parts and beverage cans the ingots will be exported to destinations across Asia and beyond, supporting a global circular economy. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the facility ensures each ingot complies...
Rytoriacap Inc. and ASC Engineered Solutions have announced that Rytoria, a North American-based company specialising in circular metal processing and recycling, has acquired ASC’s foundry and related facilities in Blossburg, Pennsylvania. The transaction follows a comprehensive search by ASC for a buyer dedicated to preserving the site’s role in supporting Tioga County’s industrial economy. Headquartered in Yoe, PA, Rytoria specialises in recycling and processing both non-ferrous and ferrous metals, including aluminium, copper, and brass. Through its subsidiary, Fagor Regen Aluminum, also based in Yoe, the company produces high-purity aluminium ingots for use in the automotive and general manufacturing sectors. “Blossburg is a wonderful community with great talent, and we are excited to...
A proposed aluminium recycling plant in Benson, USA, has stirred deep concerns among local residents, who fear the facility might lead to environmental harm, noise pollution, and water overuse — if not immediately, then in the long run. While the anxieties are understandable, especially given the plant’s location near residential areas, experts suggest these concerns might be rooted more in misinformation than in facts. Image source: IndiaMART The plant, led by Aluminum Dynamics, aims to recycle used beverage cans, which is symbolically an initiative to benefit the environment.“Aluminium is 100 percent recyclable. It’s infinitely recyclable, and we want to take advantage of that and keep these cans out of our landfills,” said Glenn Pushis, President of Aluminum Dynamics, in a statement...
