China to Issue Scrap Import Licenses by End-June, Earlier than Expected by Industry

China aims to grant import licenses and a first batch of import quotas by the end of June for soon-to-be restricted scrap metal shipments into the nation, a government spokesman said, slightly earlier than previously expected by the industry. The recycling branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association had said last month that the environment ministry would only formally accept import license applications from July 1.

China will restrict imports of high-grade Category 6 copper scrap from July, as well as aluminum and steel scrap, an extension of an earlier ban that started this year on Category 7 scrap, which has less metal content.

Traders and other scrap metal importers will have to show they have the capacity to manufacture scrap into refined metal or semi-finished products such as copper cathode or rods to receive licenses and quotas from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).

“The MEE has been carrying out inspections on scrap metals importers and processing companies,” ministry spokesman Liu Youbin said on Wednesday, adding that the ministry would not accept applications from companies that had violated rules.