China kicked off formulation of recycled steel standards, paving the way to prevent complete scrap import ban

SHANGHAI, Apr 17 (SMM) – China’s industry bodies have kicked off the formulation of standards on recycled iron and steel imports, which will reclassify high-quality ferrous scrap as recyclable materials that may be exempt from the upcoming ban on the so-called “solid waste” imports.

This move was initiated by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the formulation work for the standards will be led by the China Metallurgical Information and Standardization Institute (CMISI).

A complete halt to a source for the key steelmaking raw material will be prevented if Beijing gives the nod to the standards.

The CMISI said Friday that it will invite steelmakers, steel scrap processors, traders, financial institutes, facility processing firms, testing agencies and other related units to set up a working group to hammer out the standards on imported recyclable ferrous scrap.

China aims to cut imports of solid waste, including copper, aluminium and steel scrap to zero by 2020. Imports of copper, aluminium and steel scrap are being steadily reduced under a quota system ahead of a complete ban at the end of this year.

China imported only 28,600 mt of steel scrap in the second half of 2019, down more than 81% from the first half of the year, as high-quality materials were moved to the restricted import list in July of the year.

Beijing has decided to keep door open to foreign high-quality copper and aluminium scrap, and the reclassification standards for copper and aluminium scrap will come into force in July this year.