Ferrous scrap exports from the UK dropped by 27pc on weak demand in Turkey’s domestic finished steel industry, according to Davis Index analysis. UK’s stainless steel scrap exports rose by 3pc in Feb 2020 driven by a rise in demand from Finland and Pakistan, which offset weaker demand from India in the month.
UK’s exports of aluminium scrap rose by 8pc in Feb 2020 from a year ago. China’s demand for aluminium scrap from the UK dropped by 11pc in this period, which was offset by increased demand in India and South Korea. These two Asian countries have been producing and selling secondary aluminium alloys to China since late 2019 after the Chinese government issued scrap import quotas. A 46pc drop in demand for copper scrap from China, however, caused a drop in the UK’s copper scrap exports by 20pc.
| Feb-20 | Feb-19 | % change | |
| UK aluminium scrap exports | 39,139 | 36,156 | 8 |
| Major importers | |||
| India | 12,553 | 10,836 | 16 |
| China | 7,447 | 8,328 | -11 |
| South Korea | 2,788 | 1,956 | 43 |
| UK copper scrap exports | 20,072 | 25,170 | -20 |
| Major importers | |||
| China | 4,777 | 8,823 | -46 |
| Germany | 2,443 | 3,480 | -30 |
| Bangladesh | 2,219 | 1,292 | 72 |
| UK SS scrap exports | 22,444 | 21,730 | 3 |
| Major importers | |||
| Finland | 8,145 | 2,828 | 188 |
| Pakistan | 7,751 | 5,550 | 40 |
| India | 3,622 | 6,464 | -44 |
| UK ferrous scrap exports | 5,30,342 | 7,21,982 | -27 |
| Major importers | |||
| Turkey | 1,48,383 | 1,62,446 | -9 |
| India | 89,248 | 89,435 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 82,937 | 78,997 | 5 |