Thailand’s Scrap Metal Crackdown: 714 Containers Seized and 100+ Plants Closed
The Thai Ministry of Industry recently intercepted 714 illegal waste containers at Laem Chabang Port and initiated repatriation procedures, while simultaneously shutting down over 100 non-compliant and high-pollution dismantling plants in Q1 2026. Since the global supply chain restructuring in 2025, Thailand has emerged as a critical hub with an annual copper scrap export volume of 332,000 physical tonnes. Should Thailand’s environmental oversight remain under high-pressure, the market widely expects the Asian copper scrap supply side to face increasing tightness.