EU's ban on aluminum exports has been postponed until September.
June 30, 2026
The European Commission has postponed the implementation of the export restrictions on aluminum scrap materials until September 2026. This postponement is aimed at resolving conflicts among various parties and finalizing a policy plan that takes into account the interests of all parties. The EU plans to restrict the export of aluminum scrap materials that have increased by 50% since 2019 and have been flowing to markets in Asia and India. The core objective is to ensure the supply of secondary raw materials in the local market, promote low-carbon development, and reduce the energy consumption of recycled aluminum production by 95% compared to primary aluminum.
There is currently a divergence of opinions within the industry: the European Aluminium Association supports the export ban, while the European Recycling Industry Association opposes the relevant restrictions. The proposed control measures may include imposing export tariffs, setting export licensing requirements, and enforcing indicators for the proportion of recycled materials to be used; the EU will launch a monitoring system in mid-2025 to collect data to support the final decision.
Market analysts predict that these restrictions will affect the pricing mechanism, and the cost of exporting aluminum scrap will increase by 50 to 150 euros per ton.
