China Announced Most Recent Batch of 2020 Scrap Metal Import Quotas

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Chinese environmental authorities issued twelfth batch of scrap metal import quotas for the current year. The quotas granted additional quantities of copper, aluminum and ferrous scrap to be imported during the current year.

According to the latest press release by the China Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Bureau under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the latest batch of quota allows for imports of 136,335 mt of copper scrap, 2,610 mt of steel scrap and 121,285 mt of aluminum scrap into the country.

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The data compiled by the Chinese Customs indicates that the country has sanctioned import quotas of 1.72 million mt for the current year till date. This includes 879,475t of copper scrap, 818,664t of aluminium scrap and 23,110t of ferrous scrap.

Meantime, Chinese authorities have not yet provided clarification on its new scrap import policy. The country had earlier announced that high-grade copper, brass and aluminium scrap will be re-categorized as raw materials having no import restrictions, but has not made it clear as to what specifications these scrap grades must fall into in order to qualify for non-restricted entry into the country.

The delay in clarification by Chinese customs authorities has created a sense of anxiety among international recycling market participants.