Aluminium recycling, Braghi (Novelis): “Europe risks losing out on scrap to China too”
Europe has already lost much of its capacity for primary aluminium production. Now a new risk is emerging: the potential loss of the raw material base that should power its circular economy — aluminium scrap.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Novelis Europe CEO Emilio Braghi drew attention to a dynamic still partially underestimated: Europe leads in scrap collection, yet is steadily exporting its most strategic secondary resource. In 2024, EU aluminium scrap exports reportedly surpassed 1.2 million tonnes — a historic peak, with a significant share heading to Asia. At the same time, a large portion of Europe’s recycling capacity currently sits idle due to a lack of availability of the very same scrap.
This is an industrial policy challenge: scrap is not waste but a critical input for a competitive, low-carbon aluminium industry. According to the article, in a global market where energy prices, industrial incentives and trade distortions allow some regions to buy up scrap at scale, prices rise internationally, while European refiners — operating without comparable support — struggle to compete.
For FACE, the message is unequivocal: Europe, producing less than 15% of the primary aluminium it needs, cannot afford a continued scrap outflow that drains value, pushes prices higher and places intense pressure on thousands of recycling-focused SMEs. As FACE has long argued, aluminium scrap must be included in the recognition of aluminium as a strategic raw material. Europe needs stronger traceability and quality standards, as well as targeted measures to retain scrap within the EU, while supporting investment and safeguarding competitiveness across the downstream value chain.
The full interview is available here.
