The European Commission plans to introduce restrictions on aluminum scrap exports, according to EU Trade chief Maroš Šefčovič. This decision is to protect the domestic industry's supply, which is critical for decarbonization efforts, as aluminum recycling requires 95% less energy than primary production.

European Aluminium reports that scrap exports, mostly bound for Asia, hit a record 1.26 million tons in 2024. The industry said this surge was partly due to a US import tariff disparity that redirected Asian buyers to EU supplies.

Šefčovič said that the new measure will be balanced, considering the interests of recyclers and downstream sectors. However, the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) opposes the move, arguing exports are driven by insufficient domestic processing capacity.