Germany’s aluminium scrap export to see a surge this year but import to stand down

Germany’s automotive industry generates a large amount of aluminium scrap. Every year, the country exports around 1 million tonnes of scrap and it tends to grow year on year.

According to the global export-import data, Germany had exported 1.05 million tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2016, which further grew by around 2 per cent in the subsequent year to 1.07 million tonnes. This year is estimated to prove no exception and extend a growth of 8.4 per cent to 1.16 million tonnes.

Some of the major scrap suppliers in Germany are WMR Recycling, Harita Metals Co, ScholzAlu Stockach GmbH, and TSR Recycling GmbH & Co. KG.

Germany also imports some good amount of aluminium scrap for its domestic industry. But this year the amount is estimated to stand down by 1 per cent at 782,516 tonnes, compared to 787,844 tonnes in 2017. However, compared to 770,129 tonnes in 2016, Germany’s aluminium scrap import in 2018 is to see a growth by around 1.6 per cent. This also shows that the aluminium scrap import by Germany grew in 2017 from a year before by some 2.30 per cent.

As a result of a hike in aluminium scrap export volume, Germany’s revenue from it is forecast to grow as well, from US$ 1325 million in 2017 to US$ 2537 million in 2018. This means the country this year would likely see a sweeping growth of around 91.47 per cent in its aluminium scrap export revenue, according to the data. But the revenue in 2017 was found lower than the previous year despite a growth in volume. In 2016, Germany’s aluminium scrap export revenue was at US$ 1372 million, 3.54 per cent more than that of 2017.

Similarly, as a consequence to the drop in import compared to 2017, Germany's aluminium import cost is likely to stand lower this year at US$ 914 million, after plunging 20 per cent from US$ 1150 million in 2017. But despite the estimated import volume being up this year from 2016, the country's import cost is forecast to still stand down compared to US$ 939 million in 2016.