Indian Recyclers Seek Government Help Over EU Metal Scrap Import Ban

A group representing India's small and mid-sized recyclers has asked the federal government to step in after the European Commission proposed excluding India from European Union metal waste exports, according to a letter reviewed by reporters.

The Commission's proposal, put forward on September 18, would bar India from importing EU metal waste under rules scheduled to take effect in May 2027. Brussels has argued that metal waste needs stricter controls because it may contain persistent and toxic heavy metals.

India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said late on Wednesday that it remains engaged with the EU on the matter.

The Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), which represents micro, small and medium enterprises, warned in its letter to the trade ministry that breaking these supply chains would hit Indian recyclers directly. It said the move could raise raw-material costs and increase India's reliance on virgin metal resources.

India is a major global buyer of scrap and sources roughly a quarter of its metal scrap imports from the EU, according to industry estimates. Data from MRAI shows that in 2025/26, about 20% of India's aluminium scrap came from the EU, along with 22% of copper and copper alloy scrap, 20% of lead scrap and 40% of zinc scrap.

MRAI contended that India already has a broad environmental regulatory framework for metal recycling and processing facilities. It described the EU proposal as "resource protectionism," arguing that scrap has become strategically important to Europe's metals industry, and urged zero-duty scrap imports under the India-EU trade deal expected this year.