07 Ocak 2026 - OTHER Announcements
As is known, comprehensive regulations are being implemented in the European Union in line with the green transformation and trade protection objectives in the iron and steel and metal sectors.
According to the Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1468,
the export of scrap metal to third countries is foreseen to be restricted from May 2027; the Steel and Metal Action Plan of 19 March 2025 also reinforces the approach of prioritizing scrap within the EU.
In addition, a surveillance system was put into operation on 23 July 2025 to monitor trade data on scrap metal, aluminum and copper in the EU.
This time, at the European Aluminum Summit held on 18 November 2025, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič announced that the Commission is preparing a measure regarding the export of aluminum scrap.
At the event, the Commissioner, evaluating the measures taken to support the aluminum sector within the framework of the EU"s trade and economic security policies, emphasized that the EU"s dependence on imports of raw materials such as bauxite and alumina will continue, and therefore, trade diversification is of strategic importance. She reminded that an import surveillance task force has been established to enable rapid intervention in the increase in imports directed towards the EU as a result of tariffs imposed by third countries, and drew attention to the ban on aluminum imports from Russia within the framework of the 16th sanctions package. Stating that scrap is a critical commodity in terms of circularity, decarbonization and strategic autonomy, Šefčovič addressed the "scrap leakage" problem experienced by the sector due to the fact that more than one million tons of aluminum scrap leaves Europe annually, and announced that preparatory work has been initiated for a new regulatory measure to address this problem. It was stated that the measure in question is not intended to completely block exports, but rather to ensure the sector"s access to sufficient quantities of scrap at competitive prices, and that the measure is planned to be adopted by spring 2026.
It was emphasized that the 50% Section 232 tariffs imposed by the US on steel and aluminum and their derivatives originating from the EU are a serious concern for the sector and that the agreed 15% upper limit for EU exports to the US should also be applied to aluminum derivatives. Commissioner Šefčović"s statement can be accessed via the following link:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_2713
On the other hand, in a letter dated November 4, 2025, addressed to the EU Commissioner for Welfare and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, and the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, following the SKDM High-Level Dialogue by the Europe Aluminium organization,
while supporting the Commission"s intention to create an export mechanism and strengthen trade diversion prevention measures,
there are some concerns regarding the proposals presented at the meeting. It is stated that:
In this context, regarding the export-oriented solution; the current proposal is criticized by the sector for only targeting facilities within the EU ETS and only compensating for the costs of eliminating free allocations.
It is emphasized that the majority of aluminum exports in Europe are made by downstream facilities outside the ETS and that the system does not protect these facilities.
It is stated that the costs arising from SKDM and ETS due to increasing raw material prices are not found in international competitors;
- It is requested that the raw material cost increases created by SKDM also be compensated,
- and that facilities outside the ETS also be included in the solution.
In addition, regarding the aluminum scrap measure; it is stated that the fact that SKDM only covers scrap before consumer use will create a large gap. It is stated that third-country producers can reduce the cost of pre-consumer/post-consumer scrap by declaring it, while
recycling and recycling facilities in the EU will be exposed to the full carbon cost. It is also pointed out that it is not possible to verify the distinction between pre-consumer/post-consumer use at the border.
Therefore, the sector proposes:
- A single default value for unprocessed aluminum,
- The elimination of the pre-consumer/post-consumer use distinction and the use of the same default value for all scrap,
- Excluding scrap (CN 7602) from the scope of pre-consumer/post-consumer use,
- If scrap is included in the scope of pre-consumer/post-consumer use, the emission value should again be determined as a default value based on primary production.
A copy of the aforementioned letter is attached.
