In a notable shift for Europe’s circular economy, exports of recyclable raw materials from the EU to non-member countries dropped to 35.7 million tonnes in 2024 — an 8.2% decline from the record-breaking 38.9 million tonnes shipped in 2023.
Yet, the figure still marks a 58.5% rise compared to 2004, underscoring long-term growth despite short-term retreat.
Conversely, imports surged 17.5% to 46.7 million tonnes, driven by an influx of organic materials — mainly from Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine — which accounted for over 60% of inbound recyclables.
Metals remained Europe’s chief export at 19 million tonnes (53.3% of total), with Turkey absorbing a third of all EU outbound shipments.
On the import front, organic waste such as food and agricultural byproducts dominated, reshaping Europe’s resource dependency.
This rebalancing of flows signals a maturing, if uneven, recycling trade — increasingly shaped by environmental pressures and global supply shifts.