Egypt soaks up European scrap: Navigate Commodities

Steelmakers and foundry operators in Egypt imported just shy of 3.5 million metric tons of waterborne ferrous scrap in 2024, according to Singapore-based dry bulk commodity supply chain intelligence firm Navigate Commodities.

Navigate founder Atilla Widnell says his firm’s analysis of satellite imaging has determined the North African nation relied largely on European shippers and had a preference for deep sea bulk cargo purchases, noting the United States was the only non-European country in the top five shippers to Egypt.

The top three exporters of ferrous scrap to Egypt last year were the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands, according to Navigate. The U.S. placed fourth, just ahead of France in fifth place.

That fourth place finish for the U.S. may have been a distant one.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in September of last year Egypt received 32,000 metric tons of scrap from America. That placed Egypt in 11^th as an export destination that month for the commodity. The following month Egypt was not even listed as a destination by the USGS.

Navigate also identifies the five largest companies or entities that supplied Egypt with recyclable steel last year, with entities from two European nations predominating the trade.

According to Navigate, the five largest ferrous scrap shippers to Egypt last year were: EMR Ltd., U.K.; S. Norton & Co. Ltd., U.K.; Belgian Scrap Terminal Group, Belgium; Galloo Holding, Belgium; and Groupe Comet, Belgium.

Navigate Commodities determined the inbound scrap traveled to Egypt on several types of vessels last year, with the nation receiving some 88 deep sea bulk vessels containing recycled steel.