UK’s non-ferrous exports jumped 20pc for aluminum and 7.2pc for copper from January-May compared with the same months in 2020 according to the country’s Customs data.
Aluminum scrap exports stood at 216,024mt in the first five months of the year as against 179,905mt in the same period last year, while copper scrap cargoes increased to 101,930mt compared to 95,083mt within the same time frame.
Aluminum Scrap
In May, UK exported 49,228mt of aluminum scrap, up 52pc compared to 32,355mt in the same month last year.
India was the lead importer of the commodity, with a 578pc increase in shipments at 12,186mt in May from 1,798mt in May 2020. China fell to second place, despite a 28pc increase in cargoes to 5649mt from 4,413 within the same period.
Copper Scrap
UK’s copper scrap exports jumped 43pc in May to 23,563mt from 16,445mt in the same month of the year prior and increased by 27pc from 18,608mt in April, according to the country’s Customs data.
China was the largest importer of copper scrap from the country, with three times more cargo to 7,543mt in May from 1,638mt in May 2020. The second-largest importer of copper scrap from the UK was France, with an 841pc increase to 3,488mt from 371mt within the same period.