【SMM Stainless Steel Flash】EU scrap export ban sparks backlash from recyclers and experts

Published: Sep 3, 2025 17:56

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【SMM Stainless Steel Flash】European steelmakers have long lobbied for a scrap export ban, and revisions to the Waste Shipment Regulation already restrict flows to OECD countries. But SMEs in the recycling industry warn of severe damage if Brussels proceeds further. A new paper by German scholar Frank Pothen argues that recycled steel saves 1.66 tons of CO₂ per ton, regardless of where it is melted, and that Europe’s exports mainly reflect weak demand, not oversupply. He cautions that trade barriers risk retaliation, reduced access to high-quality stainless scrap, lower global utilization, and higher emissions. The EU Commission itself admitted in a 2022 anti-subsidy probe against Indonesian stainless steel that export bans curb entrepreneurial freedom and distort competition. Industry voices insist the real solution lies in tackling structural issues such as high energy costs, better recycling standards, and investment in quality – not protectionist trade barriers.

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