Kazakhstan extends scrap metal export ban for 6 more months
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Kazakhstan has extended its ban on the export of metal scrap for another six months. The ban applies to both ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap, as well as spent lead batteries, waste and scrap batteries, and used railway elements. The ban will come into effect on 5 May 2024, and remain in place for six months.
Reason for the ban: The Ministry of Industry and Construction stated that the ban aims to address a scrap shortage affecting domestic enterprises. In 2023, Kazakh mills received 1.9 million tonnes (mnt) of ferrous scrap, far below the estimated annual requirement of 3.9 mnt, leading to a load capacity of just 35%. The new regulations intend to redirect these resources to meet domestic demand.
Impact:
- This extension may affect businesses involved in exporting metal scrap from Kazakhstan.
- Domestic metal producers within Kazakhstan are likely to benefit from the continued availability of scrap materials.
The same six-month ban applies to the export of ferrous scrap, pig iron ingots intended for remelting (charge pig iron), used pipes, rails, railway track elements, and rolling stock, but only by road and sea transport.
