Türkiye the top destination for recyclable raw materials from the EU

Türkiye was the top destination for recyclable raw materials from the European Union last year, with a volume of 12.3 million tonnes shipped, new data from Eurostat has found.

Other key destinations for recyclable raw materials included the United Kingdom (3.8 million tonnes), India (3.1 million tonnes), Egypt (1.8 million tonnes) and Switzerland (1.6 million tonnes), the data showed.

Exports of recyclable raw materials from the EU, including recyclable waste and scrap as well as other secondary raw materials, totalled 35.7 million tonnes in 2024, which was a 8.2% decline on the previous year.

In fact, 2023 was a record year for exports of recyclable raw materials, with exports reaching 38.9 million tonnes.

While exports have decreased, the volume of recyclable raw materials exported from the EU to non-EU countries is 58.5% higher than it was two decades ago, totalling 13.2 million tonnes in 2004.

Metals comprised more than half (53.3%) of the EU’s recyclable raw material exports in 2024, accounting for 19.0 million tonnes. This was followed by paper and cardboard, which accounted for 5.5 million tonnes (15.3%), while organic materials – such as vegetal and animal waste – totalled 4.4 million tonnes (12.2%).

Imports of recyclable raw materials

The EU’s imports of recyclable raw materials from non-EU countries rose to 46.7 million tonnes in 2024, a 17.5% increase (+7.0 million tonnes) compared to 2023. Since 2004, imports have grown by 7.2%.

The largest import category was organic materials (28.4 million tonnes), accounting for 60.7% of all recyclable raw materials imports, while the main countries from which said materials were imported included Brazil (9.8 million tonnes), Argentina (7.8 million tonnes), the United Kingdom (4.5 million tonnes), Ukraine (4.2 million tonnes) and Indonesia (2.4 million tonnes). Read more here.