UK’s exports of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap dropped in March due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 driven lockdowns in the the exporting as well as importing countries. Copper scrap exports saw the biggest drop, while aluminium scrap exports dropped marginally.
The UK exported scrap metal to traditional markets. However, Thailand’s imports of aluminium scrap soared by 1,310pc to 3,964mt from a year ago and Pakistan’s imports of ferrous scrap and stainless steel scrap both jumped by 88.9pc and 775.8pc, respectively.
| UK exports (mt) | Mar-20 | Mar-19 | % change | Jan-Mar 2020 | Jan-Mar 2019 | % change |
| Copper scrap | 20,647 | 32,983 | -37.4 | 65,466 | 79,416 | -17.6 |
| Major importers | ||||||
| China | 5,517 | 11,202 | -50.7 | 15,958 | 26,246 | -39.2 |
| India | 3,100 | 2,763 | 12.2 | 8,714 | 8,370 | 4 |
| Germany | 1,957 | 3,596 | -45.6 | 7,162 | 10,888 | -34.2 |
| Aluminium scrap | 37,430 | 39,863 | -6.1 | 113,882 | 110,856 | 2.7 |
| Major importers | ||||||
| India | 11,114 | 12,574 | -11.6 | 34,812 | 31,837 | 9.3 |
| China | 7,831 | 9,757 | -19.7 | 23,957 | 27,818 | -13.8 |
| Thailand | 3,964 | 281 | 1310 | 5,275 | 1,198 | 340 |
| Ferrous scrap | 722,013 | 806,760 | -10.5 | 1.88mn | 2mn | -6 |
| Major importers | ||||||
| Turkey | 257,363 | 326,823 | -21.2 | 647,150 | 585,953 | 10.4 |
| Pakistan | 110,439 | 58,436 | 88.9 | 254,602 | 192,163 | 32.5 |
| India | 88,458 | 78,157 | 13.2 | 227,576 | 276,494 | -17.7 |
| Stainless steel scrap | 41,814 | 50,688 | -17.5 | 80,746 | 91,773 | -12 |
| Major importers | ||||||
| Pakistan | 13,023 | 1,487 | 775.8 | 22,757 | 7,921 | 187 |
| India | 10,158 | 11,991 | -15.3 | 17,195 | 23,923 | -28.1 |
| Spain | 5682 | 10,242 | -45 | 9,608 | 14,180 | 32.2 |