BIR Convention Highlights Concerns Over EU Recycled Metal Export Restrictions

At the BIR World Recycling Convention in Malaga, industry leaders warned that proposed EU export restrictions could affect metal recycling trade, including shipments to India.

Brussels, 29 October 2026: The proposed European Union (EU) restrictions on recycled metal exports to India came under discussion at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) World Recycling Convention in Malaga, Spain. During the plenary session of the International Trade Council on 27 October, industry representatives raised concerns about the EU’s updated Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR).

India, along with other major metal trading economies such as Malaysia and Vietnam, is excluded from a provisional list of approved importers from non-OECD countries. The list is expected to be finalised after consultation on 21 November. The updated regulation is due to come into effect in May 2027. Meanwhile, BIR and Recycling Europe have called for a delay.

Indian Recyclers Raise Concerns Over Proposed Restrictions

Dhawal Shah, partner at Metco Ventures (IND), spoke about the long-standing trade relationship between India and Europe. He questioned the reasons behind the proposed restrictions and their impact on the upcoming India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

“I’ve always looked up to and respected and really valued Europe’s transparency, the way it processed things. However, that seems to have changed.”

Shah said the European Commission had referred to environmentally sound management of materials. However, he questioned whether the proposed measures were driven by environmental concerns or economic interests.

He also raised concerns about the timing of the regulation, given the planned India-EU FTA, which is due to be signed in December.

“It is called the mother of all FTA agreements; it represents 25% of the world GDP. There was also an agreement that, while we negotiate this, we will not change any of the federal laws which impact trade. But somewhere that promise was perhaps broken.”

Shah also pointed to differences in how the proposed rules could affect trade in recycled and intermediate materials.

“Intermediate products of aluminium or copper can flow into our country [from the EU]. We welcome that but my simple question here is: ‘Why not scrap?’ Maybe better sense will prevail, and we may have some corrections.”

Industry Leaders Question Export Restrictions

The session was opened by Emmanuel Katrakis, Chairman, International Trade Council and Galloo Group (FRA/BEL). He said discussions were increasingly focused on restrictions on the movement of secondary materials rather than free trade.

He noted that lobbying for export tariffs and export bans had increased over the past two years. Similar trends were also emerging in North and South America.

Caroline Craenhals, chief executive of Belgian Scrap Terminal (BEL), said that closing markets could weaken recycling activity rather than strengthen it.

“A loop is not a cage.”

She warned that export restrictions could leave Europe with a surplus of recycled materials if domestic industries could not absorb the available supply.

“When we close markets through export restrictions, we don’t just restrict trade, we weaken recycling itself,” she said. “If important selling markets disappear, Europe risks creating a surplus of recycled materials for which we don’t have sufficient demand from our domestic industries.”

Craenhals supported traceability, environmental standards and responsible trade. However, she stressed the need to distinguish illegal waste dumping from the legitimate trade of high-quality recycled raw materials.

She also called for better End-of-Waste regulations and measures to increase demand for recycled materials within Europe.

US and Latin American Perspectives

Kevin Gershowitz, president of Gershow Recycling (USA), shared his views on the changing recycling market. He discussed how his family business had grown from a small scrap trading operation in New York into a major company.

He said businesses must adapt as market conditions change. Referring to the implementation of the updated WSR in May 2027, he asked delegates whether they were prepared for the changes.

Gershowitz also highlighted the difference between export and import restrictions.

“With an export restriction you shoot yourself in the foot; with an import restriction, you shoot the other guy.”

He acknowledged that similar export measures could emerge in the US. However, he believed the country’s recycling industry had strong relationships with Congress and could challenge such proposals.

Alejandro Jaramillo, chief executive of Glorem (MEX), shared an example from Argentina. In 2009, the country suspended exports of recycled ferrous materials to secure supplies for domestic industries. The restrictions were later extended to other metals.

Although the suspension was initially planned for 180 days, it remained in place for 16 years.

Jaramillo said the government had identified several problems with the policy. These included distorted prices, lower investment in recycling, reduced material separation and collection, and continued shortages of raw materials.

He warned that the EU regulation could encourage similar measures in Latin America.

“My concern is if this [WSR] regulation does go forward in its current shape, it will set a precedent for Latin American economies to do the same,” he warned. “And there’s always a risk for retaliation. I don’t know if the European regulators that drafted this legislation were mindful of that.”

Call for Stronger Demand-Side Measures

During the discussion, Katrakis noted that more than 80% of scrap metals recycled in Europe remain within the region. He argued that export restrictions alone would not create stronger circular markets.

Instead, he called for measures that increase demand for recycled materials. These include tax policies, recycled content requirements and green public procurement.

He also highlighted the need to support the entire recycling value chain. This could include simpler rules for moving recycled materials within the EU and measures to protect industries against unfair trade practices.

Katrakis questioned policies aimed at protecting energy-intensive industries while economic growth in the EU remained between 1% and 2%. He stressed that the entire value chain must function effectively and create value before benefits are shifted from one industry to another.

The discussions in Malaga highlighted concerns across the global recycling industry. Delegates called for policies that support responsible trade, strengthen recycling markets and encourage demand for secondary raw materials.