Industry experts at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) World Recycling Convention and Exhibition in Malaga, Spain, have warned that export restrictions could disrupt Europe’s copper recycling value chain. They highlighted risks including lower scrap prices, weaker investment and limited domestic processing capacity.
The Non-Ferrous Metals Division discussed these concerns on October 26, 2026. Professor Dr Frank Pothen of the University of Applied Sciences in Jena, Germany, presented research on the effects of trade barriers on recovered copper. Germany’s Circular Metal Association commissioned the report, with research contributions from the Fraunhofer Institute.
Speakers stressed the role of international trade in supporting recycling. They also called for greater investment in domestic processing facilities before governments introduce restrictions on scrap exports.
Recycled Copper Supports Global Supply
Recycling plays a major role in the global copper value chain. According to Professor Pothen and his research colleagues, recycled copper accounted for approximately one-third of the raw material used in global copper production in 2024.
Demand is expected to rise further. Global copper demand could reach 42 million tonnes by 2040, representing a 50% increase over current levels.
Professor Pothen outlined four potential consequences of export restrictions:
- Fewer export markets: Domestic processors may lack the capacity to absorb additional scrap when export channels close.
- Lower scrap prices: Processors may gain access to cheaper inputs, while recyclers face lower revenues and profit margins.
- Weaker collection and sorting: Poorer returns could reduce incentives to recover and process complex scrap materials.
- Lower investment: Reduced revenues and liquidity could limit funding for new recycling infrastructure.
These pressures could reduce the supply of recovered metals and slow investment in recycling capacity.
Trade Policy and Industrial Competitiveness
Professor Pothen said policymakers must consider the competitiveness of European industries that use copper, aluminium and steel. Energy costs, regulatory burdens and other factors also affect industrial performance.
He said: “What we hope for the future is that we will think about regulatory systems and incentives that improve the conditions for recycling, that get incentives to invest in more sorting and refining and processing capacities, combining environmental issues with workable trade rules.”
The session also highlighted differences in the cost of processing recovered copper. Pre-consumer copper is generally suitable for direct melting and requires relatively little processing. Complex secondary raw materials need more collection, separation and refining. These steps increase costs and affect recycling margins.
Brass Exports Reveal Europe’s Processing Gap
Brass emerged as a key concern for European recycling markets. Figures presented during the session showed that alloys, notably brass, accounted for 41.7% of all copper scrap exports from the EU in 2025. China and India together purchased 80% of the exported alloy.
Professor Pothen questioned whether European companies could process this material if export opportunities disappeared.
He asked: “Are there actually other companies that can use the scrap metals to make something out of it?”
Without adequate processing capacity, export restrictions could leave recyclers with excess material. Europe would need more facilities to convert recovered metals into usable raw materials.
ACIN Invests in Processing Lower-Value Metals
Joan Campmajó, chief executive officer of ACIN, highlighted the need to invest in processing lower-value metal grades. Founded in Girona, Spain, in 2014, the family-owned recycling company focuses on recovering and processing metals.
Campmajó encouraged recyclers to turn waste into usable raw materials. He explained that clean recovered materials were easier to sell in European markets, while lower-quality grades presented greater commercial challenges.
ACIN is investing in cleaning and processing technologies to prepare these materials for sale within the European Union. This approach highlights how sorting and treatment technologies can expand the range of metals available for industrial reuse.
La Farga Seeks a Reliable European Copper Supply
Georgeta Postas, raw materials purchasing director at La Farga, Spain, highlighted the importance of reliable recycled copper supplies for manufacturing.
In 2025, recycled copper accounted for 60% of La Farga’s copper production of 200,000 tonnes. In 2026, more than 70% of its recycled copper came from within Europe.
The company aims to increase its share of European-sourced material. However, progress depends on the availability of suitable feedstock and a reliable supply chain.
Postas said: “The Europe Urban Mine is a strategic resource that needs a viable value chain. Ensuring access to raw material must definitely go hand in hand with maintaining industrial capabilities that can transform these materials into usable ones.”
Her comments highlighted the need to link access to recovered materials with the industrial capacity required to process them into semi-finished products.
Industry Warns of Potential Brass Surpluses
Natallia Zholud of TRM Metals, Poland, a board member of BIR’s Non-Ferrous Metals Division, noted that much of Europe’s recent recycling capacity expansion had focused on copper wire rod processing.
She asked Campmajó how the market would respond if companies could no longer export recovered brass.
Campmajó said the industry would not have enough time to prepare for processing all the material. His company had purchased machines to separate zinc from copper, making the separated copper easier to market in Europe.
He warned: “We are going to have a huge problem. We are going to have mountains of brass in our yards.”
Campmajó added that brass sales were already difficult because demand from buyers within the EU remained limited.
The discussion highlighted the risks of restricting exports before developing sufficient processing capacity and domestic demand. Such restrictions could leave recyclers with growing stockpiles and fewer commercial options.
Industry Calls for Collaboration to Meet Copper Demand
Responding to a question about export controls, Postas urged the industry to prepare for rising copper demand rather than focus mainly on supply concerns.
She said: “What we need to do is meet this demand via partnerships, collaboration, innovation and strengthening the industrial competitiveness of Europe.”
Murat Bayram of European Metal Recycling, Germany, also called for a coordinated industry response. BIR presented him with the Non-Ferrous Legend Award at its previous Gothenburg Convention.
Speaking from the floor, he said: “We need to understand we are sitting in the same boat, the recyclers, the smelters, the collectors, the traders, the brokers. We need to avoid any more regulation because we are building a labyrinth from regulation to regulation and [then] wonder why the investments are not going through. Let’s remind us again and again, we are one community.”
His remarks stressed the need for cooperation among recyclers, smelters, collectors, traders and brokers. He also called for a regulatory environment that supports investment across the value chain.
BIR Highlights Challenges Facing Non-Ferrous Recyclers
Paul Coyte of Hayes Metals, New Zealand, president of BIR’s Non-Ferrous Metals Division, opened the session by highlighting the changing business environment.
He identified energy costs, including fuel, electricity and gas, alongside regulatory issues, security of supply and security of demand, as continuing concerns for BIR members.
Coyte also stressed the industry’s shared goal of improving recycling outcomes.
He said: “We all listen to each other; we want to improve it. That’s because there’s a common goal, which is recycling. And that’s quite exciting.”
Conclusion: Processing Capacity Remains Critical
Discussions at BIR’s World Recycling Convention highlighted the risks of restricting recovered-metal exports without first investing in domestic processing infrastructure.
Speakers warned that trade barriers could lower scrap prices, weaken recycling incentives, limit investment and create brass surpluses. They also stressed that higher copper recycling rates require more than access to raw materials.
Reliable supply chains, suitable processing technologies, viable markets and investment-friendly policies will all play a role in strengthening Europe’s recycling value chain.