BIR Convention highlights South-East Asia’s ascent as a global metals recycling hub

According to industry experts at the recent BIR convention in Singapore, Southeast Asia is rapidly establishing itself as a major hub for metals recycling, with new facilities emerging across Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently, BIR has a membership of over 1,100 companies, and around 1,200 delegates attended the Autumn Convention held in Singapore.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is the only global recycling industry federation representing more than 30,000 companies around the globe held the WORLD RECYCLING CONVENTION (Round-table session) in SINGAPORE from October (27) 28-29, 2024, RAFFLES CITY CONVENTION CENTRE, FAIRMONT HOTEL

Among the latest additions is Oryx’s advanced stainless steel recycling facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, which has been designed as a modern reloading point for alloyed scrap.

Joost van Kleef, Commercial Director of Oryx, said, 'This enables us to source more materials from within the region but also to supply mills in, let's say, Korea and India without having to move scrap all over the world.'

Chinese companies have recently initiated new projects in Thailand, including a copper and brass recycling plant by Ningbo Jingtian Copper in Bangkok and an aluminium recycling and ingot production facility near Rayong by Delta Metal.

Anthony Wong, Delta Metal's Board Director, said, 'Initially, we will process some 8,000 tonnes of materials per month, with capacity to be increased up to 20,000 tonnes in the next two years or so.'

AL Circle's industry-focused report, "World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast to 2030," revealed that India, Japan, and South Korea are the primary markets for recycled aluminium in the rest of Asia Pacific. In 2022, recycled aluminium consumption accounted for 13.68 per cent of total aluminium usage worldwide or 3.72 million tonnes.

The data forecasted by the AL Circle tells a captivating story of growth and strategic foresight in the dynamic metallurgical industry of the Rest of Asia Pacific. The forecasts indicate that the economy will continue to grow in the years to come, with a strong CAGR of 4.74 per cent from 2022 to 2030. The industry is expected to have a significant upturn by 2024, when total output is expected to reach 4.1 million tonnes, indicating a noteworthy advancement. Projected values for 2025, 2026, and 2030 are 4.3, 4.6, and 5.3 million tonnes, respectively, indicating a continuous upward trend. To gain insights into the regional aluminium recycling markets globally, please obtain a copy of the report.

According to BIR President Susie Burrage, Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and India, is emerging as a rapidly expanding hub for recycling. Speaking to the press in Singapore before the organisation's annual convention, Burrage highlighted that a significant number of BIR's new members now come from India, reflecting the region's momentum in recycling initiatives.

Image credit: BIR Website