Spain Carving Out Role as Scrap Exporter to China

Spain is among the many nations emerging as an exporter of scrap metals and other materials to the usually-hungry basic materials producers of China.

In a presentation prepared for the China International Recycling Conference 2011, Pablo Recio of the Chamber of Commerce of Andalusia, Spain, outlined recent scrap flow activities from Spain to China.

Recio cited China Customs data showing that Spain has been active as an aluminum scrap shipper to China, ranking third behind the United States and Malaysia in the value of aluminum scrap sent to China in 2010.

Spain holds an identical rank as a copper scrap supplier to China, according to the China Customs data cited by Recio. In a list of suppliers ranked by the value of the copper scrap they shipped to China in 2010, Spain ranked third behind only the United States and Australia.

In terms of ferrous scrap shipping, Spain holds a lower ranking of sixth, but Recio indicated that “there is supply available” in Andalusia and the rest of Spain.

Recio said Spain’s Andalusia region is particular suited to scrap trading activities because of its location on the Mediterranean coast and its major population centers that generate scrap.

The Andalusian Chamber of Commerce also manages a program called Extenda that staffs offices in cities around the world to promote trade. There are Extenda offices in both Beijing and Shanghai, said Recio.

Recio also indicated that brokers and traders are performing most of the export functions, but that some Spanish scrap processors are seeking AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) licensing.

Extenda and the CRRA (China National Resources Recycling Association) also are organizing a trip for a delegation from China to visit Spain in November 2011, according to Recio.

The China International Recycling Conference 2011, hosted by the China National Resources Recycling Association, took place May 13-14 in Foshan, China.