Russia retains quantitative scrap export restrictions with extended quota system for CY'25

• Russia's 2025 scrap export quota volume rises 31%
  
  
• Exports within quota face 5% duty, a minimum of Euro 15/t
  
  

The Russian government has announced a ferrous scrap export quota of 1.5 million mt for 2025, marking a 31% increase from the previous year's 1.15 million mt quota. This extended quota will apply to low-duty scrap exports outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), valid from 1 January to 31 December 2025.

The quota will allow exports to incur a 5% customs duty, with a minimum charge of Euro 15/t for volumes within the quota.

However, once the quota is filled, exports exceeding the threshold will face a significantly higher customs duty of 5%, but with a minimum fee of Euro 290/t.

According to reports, despite the increase in the quota, the Russian recycling association Ruslom.com has advocated for a higher figure of at least 2.5 mnt. They argue that the proposed level will better support domestic scrap collection, which has been severely impacted by weak pricing over the past year.

Since 2022, Russia's ferrous scrap exports have been constrained due to ongoing challenges in the global scrap market, with key export destinations such as Turkiye, South Korea, and Belarus seeing significant declines in shipments.

The country's recycling sector has been under strain as a result of low pricing, which has hindered scrap collection rates. The extended quota aims to balance the increasing demand for Russian scrap in international markets while attempting to stabilise the country's domestic recycling industry.