PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release
Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe – FACE
Monday 20 October 2025, Brussels
PRESS RELEASE
EUROPE NEEDS A TEMPORARY EXPORT TARIFF ON ALUMINIUM SCRAP: IT’S A MATTER OF INDUSTRIAL SOVEREIGNTY
FACE – the Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe – issues a strong call through its Secretary General, Mario Conserva: the introduction of a temporary and targeted tariff on the export of aluminium scrap from the European Union.
“This is not about protectionism,” explains Conserva, “but about addressing a serious industrial and environmental gap that today penalises Europe.”
FACE recalls that over 1.2 million tonnes of scrap leave the EU every year, attracted by Asian and American plants.
“A paradox that weakens European industry, increases dependence on imported primary aluminium – often with high carbon intensity – and puts the green transition at risk.”
“Recycling uses 95% less energy than primary production,” continues Conserva, “yet insufficient infrastructure, outdated regulations and excessive bureaucracy make it easier to export than to invest in recycling within Europe.”
The Federation is calling for a structural EU intervention, with a coordinated package of measures to retain and valorise aluminium scrap:
- Regulatory reform to simplify classification, transport and recycling.
- Recognition of scrap as a strategic raw material under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
- Support for SMEs through tax incentives, reduced energy costs and financing tools.
- Investment in research for advanced sorting and refining technologies.
- Incentives for producers to use post-consumer recycled (PCR) scrap.
- Public–private partnerships to accelerate scalable industrial solutions.
Finally, FACE stresses the need to ensure access to low-carbon primary aluminium, in a complementary approach between production and recycling.
“The risk we face is twofold,” concludes Conserva. “Losing a strategic resource and losing ground in the global race towards the green transition. Europe cannot remain the world’s scrap yard – exporting value and importing dependence. We need a pragmatic European industrial policy to turn a weakness into a strategic opportunity.”
The presse release is available here.
