BIR Warns Metal Export Restrictions Could Weaken Recycling Investment
Growing restrictions on recovered metal exports could undermine recycling investment and disrupt material flows, according to discussions at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) World Recycling Convention in Malaga, Spain, on October 26.
Professor Dr Frank Pothen of the University of Applied Sciences in Jena, Germany, presented research conducted with colleagues at the Fraunhofer Institute on the potential effects of trade barriers on recovered copper. The report was prepared for Germany’s Circular Metal Association.
The research highlighted the role of recycled material in meeting future copper demand. Recycled copper accounted for about one-third of the raw materials used in global copper production in 2024. Global copper demand is expected to reach 42 million tonnes by 2040, around 50% above current levels.
Pothen outlined several possible consequences of export restrictions, including fewer overseas outlets for recovered metals, lower domestic scrap prices and reduced revenues for recyclers. If collection and sorting become less profitable, the recovery of complex scrap materials could also decline. Reduced cash flow could further limit investment in recycling capacity.
The issue is particularly relevant for brass, which can require additional processing before it is suitable for reuse. Brass accounted for 41.7% of EU copper scrap exports in 2025, with China and India purchasing 80% of the exported alloy, according to figures cited at the meeting.
Joan Campmajó, chief executive officer of Spanish recycler ACIN, said the company was investing in equipment to separate zinc from copper and improve the marketability of lower-grade materials. He warned that European processors might not have enough capacity to absorb all recovered brass if export outlets were restricted.
Georgeta Postas, raw materials purchasing director at Spanish copper products manufacturer La Farga, said recycled copper accounted for 60% of the company’s 200,000 tonnes of copper production in 2025. More than 70% of its recycled copper supply in 2026 had been sourced within Europe, she said, while further increases would depend on material availability and a reliable supply chain.
The discussions underscored a central issue for European recycling policy: restricting exports alone may not ensure that more recovered metals are processed domestically. Expanding sorting, refining and manufacturing capacity, alongside viable market incentives, will be important if Europe is to make greater use of its recovered resources while meeting rising demand for copper.
Source: Bureau of International Recycling (BIR)
