Since 2021, the solid waste import ban has been fully implemented, fundamentally changing the landscape of scrap metal imports. Lead, zinc, tin, and nickel scrap can no longer enter the country, while recycled copper and recycled aluminum raw materials can still be imported in compliance. Many purchasers, recyclers, and traders are asking: Which materials can we still work with now? How can we operate in compliance? This article uses general industry knowledge to sort out the changes in supply structure after the ban, the boundaries of compliant categories, and the adjustment directions for downstream enterprises, helping practitioners avoid pitfalls.
1. Ban Takes Effect, Imported Scrap Bows Out
For the past few decades, imported scrap was an important supplement to the supply of nonferrous metal raw materials in China. In the early years, imported scrap copper and scrap aluminum made up for the shortage of domestic mineral resources and also gave rise to a cluster of dismantling and processing industries in the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta. As environmental pressure increased, the state gradually tightened its solid waste import policy. From restricting imports to prohibiting them, the policy was repeatedly intensified, and a standard system was introduced to distinguish "solid waste" from "raw materials." Since 2021, with the exception of raw materials from recycled products that meet the standards, the vast majority of scrap metal has been explicitly banned from import. This change is not a short-term measure but the result of a long-term tightening of environmental policy. For enterprises that relied on imported scrap, the old procurement model has become invalid, and they must rebuild their supply channels. For traders, the past model of profiting by reselling imported scrap is no longer sustainable, and market fluctuations and regulatory risks are both increasing. At the same time, the import scrap processing industry in coastal ports is also facing transformation, with some yards shifting to domestic trade or converting to temporary storage areas for recycled raw materials.
2. How Does the Domestic Supply Structure Change?
After the ban, the domestic supply structure of recycled metals has shifted from "two-wheel drive of imported scrap + domestic recycling" to "domestic recycling as the mainstay, imported raw materials as a supplement." The most obvious change is that import sources for scrap lead, zinc, tin, and nickel have been cut off, and the raw material supply for these varieties relies more on domestic recycling and dismantling, such as used batteries, galvanizing slag, and solder dross. Although scrap copper and aluminum still retain import channels, the threshold has been significantly raised, and only recycled raw materials that meet the standards can enter. The old practice of importing full containers of mixed scrap and sorting after arrival is no longer viable. At the same time, the domestic recycling network has begun to expand rapidly, with urban mining bases and large recycling enterprises gradually improving their standardization levels, and the proportion of recycled metal output is rising. For purchasers, the supply source has shifted from "picking cheap imported goods" to "competing for high-quality domestic materials," with increased price transparency but also more pronounced premium competition. It should be noted that in terms of total volume, domestic recycling cannot yet fully make up for the import gap, and a supply-demand gap will always exist.
3. Categories That Can Still Be Legally Imported
Currently, recycled copper raw materials, recycled aluminum raw materials, recycled brass raw materials, etc., can still be legally imported. They are not simple scrap but raw material products that have undergone sorting, dismantling, and pre-treatment and meet current national standards for metal purity, impurities, moisture, and other indicators. For example, recycled copper raw materials require a certain copper content and clear upper limits on impurities and other metals; recycled aluminum raw materials similarly have requirements for particle size and coating treatment. As long as they meet the standards, they can be imported as commodities. Conversely, mixed scrap fragments that have not undergone standardized processing, waste wires and cables, lead-containing scrap, etc., are still identified as solid waste and are prohibited from entering the country. It is important to note that not all enterprises can handle recycled raw material imports; only enterprises with import qualifications can complete customs declaration, and customs is very strict in reviewing product names, codes, and declaration elements. If you are unsure whether a batch of goods qualifies as raw material or solid waste, the safest approach is to send samples for testing in advance and confirm each item against the current national standards. In actual business, some overseas suppliers melt scrap copper into crude copper ingots and import them in the form of anode copper and other products; these are already metal products rather than scrap, and this direction is also acceptable.
4. Hard Thresholds for Import Supervision
The core of supervising recycled raw material imports is "standards + qualifications + inspection." First, enterprises must have import/export qualifications, complete customs filing, and understand relevant regulations. Second, before the goods arrive at the port, documents such as quality inspection reports and certificates of origin need to be prepared. Customs conducts inspections on containers based on risk control, focusing on whether the form of the goods, impurities, and radioactivity meet standards. If goods are found not to comply with current standards, even just one container, the entire batch may be returned. A special reminder here: reselling import licenses for imported raw materials is strictly prohibited, and once identified, it can lead to administrative penalties or even criminal liability. Environmental protection departments also have requirements for the processing and utilization stage; imported recycled raw materials can only be sold to enterprises that meet environmental requirements and cannot flow to "scattered, disordered, and polluting" workshops. In addition, overseas suppliers must also have corresponding qualifications and cannot be "shell companies." In practice, some overseas suppliers have improved delivery quality by setting up sorting plants and obtaining international certifications. For purchasers, choosing a supplier depends on whether it has stable supply capacity and a quality system, not just low prices.
5. Four Directions for Enterprise Response
Facing the new landscape after the ban, enterprises can adjust in four directions. First, bind domestic recycling channels by signing long-term agreements with large-scale recycling enterprises to secure stable supply; currently, domestic recovery volumes of scrap copper and aluminum are increasing year by year, and channel building is more important than short-term procurement. Second, enhance sorting and processing capabilities by adding crushers, magnetic separators, and eddy current sorting equipment to bring domestic scrap up to raw-material-grade standards, enabling entry into high-end downstream supply chains. Third, expand overseas and align with standards: capable enterprises can build sorting plants overseas to produce recycled raw materials that meet Chinese standards and import them, achieving "replacement of scrap import with raw material import." Fourth, pay attention to policy and tax adjustments: environmental assessments are becoming stricter, but tax incentives for compliant recycled metal enterprises are also being improved, and timely application for such incentives can effectively improve profit margins. In short, the solid waste ban is not meant to "close the door" on the scrap metal industry, but to push it toward a cleaner and more efficient direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can scrap copper still be imported now?
Yes, but it must be recycled copper raw material that meets current national standards, not ordinary scrap copper. Before importing, you need to confirm that indicators such as copper content and impurities meet the standards, and the customs declaration must be done by a qualified enterprise.
Q: Can waste lead-acid batteries still be imported?
No. Since 2021, lead, zinc, tin, and nickel scrap have been explicitly prohibited from import. Waste lead-acid batteries can only be recycled and processed domestically.
Q: What procedures are required for importing recycled aluminum raw materials?
You need to have import/export qualifications, provide quality inspection reports and certificates of origin, and declare to customs. After arrival, the goods are subject to inspection to ensure they meet recycled aluminum raw material standards.
Q: Can a small company without qualifications import recycled raw materials?
It cannot do so directly. You can use a qualified foreign trade company as an agent for import, but the actual receiving party is responsible for the quality and standard compliance of the supply. It is recommended to conduct sample testing first.
Q: Will scrap metal prices soar after the ban?
Price trends have already been supported by the supply gap, but specific market conditions are affected by multiple factors such as macroeconomics, demand, and inventory. Refer to relevant industry quotation pages for real-time prices, and do not make decisions based on static expectations.
Q: Can domestic recycling volumes make up for the import gap?
In the short term, it cannot fully make up, but the recycling system is improving year by year. High-end recycled copper and aluminum raw materials still depend on imports, and the gap will persist in the long term.
Q: What is the difference between recycled copper raw material and scrap copper?
Recycled copper raw material is copper material that has been pre-treated and meets national standards, and can be used directly as raw material; scrap copper is untreated mixed material. The standards impose mandatory requirements on metal grade and impurity ratios.
Key Takeaways
1. The era of imported scrap has ended; recycled copper and aluminum raw materials are the only remaining compliant import channels. 2. Scrap lead, zinc, tin, and nickel are all banned from import, and domestic recycling is the main source. 3. Imported recycled raw materials must meet national standards; cooperate with qualified enterprises. 4. Enterprises should plan domestic recycling channels and sorting capabilities in advance to reduce supply risks. 5. For real-time market conditions, rely on professional quotation platforms and avoid trusting one-sided information from self-media.
Further reading
- Daily nonferrous metal prices: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/prices
- Nonferrous company directory: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/companies
- Supply & demand marketplace: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/market
About Guilin Metals
Guilin Metals (Chinese name 贵临有色网, guilinmetals.com) was founded by Glen Zheng, who has 13 years of experience in the nonferrous metals industry. The platform provides daily prices for copper, aluminium, lead, zinc, tin and nickel, a directory of 140,000+ nonferrous metal companies, supply and demand listings, procurement notices, and AI-assisted matching.
- Daily prices: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/prices
- Company directory: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/companies
- Marketplace: https://www.guilinmetals.com/en/market
*Data as of 2026-08-17.*