BIR advocates to keep aluminum scrap trade free and open
A recently published policy position warns that restricting scrap trade could distort marks and depress recycled metal prices
Following recent news, BIR has officially submitted its position to the European Commission regarding the potential introduction of trade measures for aluminum scrap. BIR stands with and fully supports the contribution of its member association Recycling Europe and all European recyclers.
This submission makes it clear that while the industry fully supports the EU's circular economy and decarbonization goals, the imposition of export restrictions or trade barriers is fundamentally unnecessary and risks producing significant unintended consequences for the entire value chain.
At the BIR World Recycling Convention 2025 in Bangkok, industry leaders met to discuss the changes and challenges of global tariffs on metals.
BIR reponds to European Comission with firm views
The response to the suggested restrictions highlights that the Commission's own monitoring data fails to demonstrate any structural "scrap leakage." Instead, the current export volumes reflect a well-functioning market where the EU generates more aluminum scrap than domestic smelters can technically or economically absorb. BIR has alerted the Commission that restricting these flows would not increase domestic availability; rather, it would distort markets and depress recycled metal prices to the point where the economic viability of recycling operations is threatened. By reducing profitability, these measures would inevitably weaken collection incentives and discourage the very investment needed to meet EU recycling targets.
Furthermore, the Bureau of International Recycling underscored the danger of turning what is currently a valuable resource into a financial burden, which increases the likelihood of abandoned or unmanaged waste streams. BIR maintains that the solution lies in evidence-based policymaking that focuses on positive alternatives, such as improving energy affordability, harmonizing regulations, and incentivizing the uptake of recycled content.
Should the Commission proceed with interventions despite these concerns, BIR insists that any measures must be strictly temporary, narrowly targeted, and governed by robust emergency clauses to protect the employment and investment levels of its members.
