BIR Non-Ferrous Division Honours Murat Bayram as ‘Legend’ Amid Debate on Aluminium Scrap Export Controls

Murat Bayram Receives Non-Ferrous Legend Award

Murat Bayram received the Non-Ferrous Legend award from Division President Paul Coyte of New Zealand-based Hayes Metals. Accepting the recognition, Mr Bayram described the award as “deeply humbling”.

Director of Non-Ferrous at European Metal Recycling, Mr Bayram currently serves as President of German metal recycling association VDM. He has also served on several BIR boards and is involved in the development of the BIR Academy and its educational resources for recyclers.

Addressing delegates in Gothenburg, Mr Bayram said:

“This industry is more than just a profession - it’s a part of my identity, a part of my soul,” he declared at the Non-Ferrous Metals Division meeting in Gothenburg on June 2. “And this business gave me more than business - it gave me purpose, it gave me friendship across continents, cultures, religions, languages. And above all, it taught me something powerful. Friends, our metals travel around the world, but our values travel with them. Values like respect, trust, responsibility, humanity.”

He continued:

“The real heroes of this industry are not the people on the stages. They are the people who wake up early, who survive crisis, who solve problems under pressure, who build companies, who create jobs, and who keep materials in circulation so that the future generation still have a future. Recycling is not only about materials; it’s about hope. It proves that things can be renewed instead of destroyed and that value can be recovered instead of wasted.”

Aluminium Scrap Availability and Export Controls Discussed

Following the award presentation, delegates participated in a session examining aluminium availability in Europe. The discussion was moderated by Emmanuel Katrakis, Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs at Galloo of France/Belgium.

Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium, opened the session by citing data indicating that exports of aluminium scrap from Europe have “doubled since 2015 and grown about 50% since 2020”.

Referring to the issue, he told delegates:

“It’s a really, really big deal.”

Mr Voss stated that while several jurisdictions globally have introduced restrictions on scrap exports, parts of the European aluminium industry believe the EU has adopted a “laissez-faire approach”.

He noted that in November 2025, the European Commission confirmed it would address the issue in a way that considers the interests of the entire value chain. Mr Voss expressed support for that approach.

“It needs to be proportionate, needs to make sense,” he insisted. “I've read many times in the press that we were asking for a ban on the export of aluminium scrap from Europe. It’s fundamentally untrue. I think it would be excessive and heavy-handed and unhelpful. What we’re asking for is a targeted measure.”

He also emphasised the need for a review mechanism:

“so that we can see how the mechanism functions in practice, what its impacts are”.

According to Mr Voss, European Aluminium remains willing to continue discussions “in the hope that we can come up with a model that works well for everybody”.

Market Analysis Highlights Processing Capacity Issues

Jessica Fung, Head of Consulting at Project Blue in the UK, presented market intelligence findings on aluminium flows.

According to Ms Fung:

“the products that are being exported by the EU are products that the EU doesn’t seem to have enough capacity to process”.

She explained that aluminium alloys returning from the automotive sector, particularly those used 15 to 20 years ago, are no longer widely utilised by Europe’s automotive industry.

“And so those are the products that are getting exported because they are being used by industry in other countries that can use those alloys and that metal,” she said.

Ms Fung argued that restricting exports of secondary materials could negatively affect recyclers by increasing storage costs and lowering domestic scrap prices. She also noted that more material could potentially be sent to landfill.

Recyclers Warn Against Export Restrictions

Thierry Cochet, President of FEDEREC’s Non-Ferrous Metals Division and Commercial Director at Derichebourg Environnement in France, stated:

“introducing restrictions on exports will be based on a false analysis and will seriously damage the European recycling sector”.

He noted that Europe recycled between 6 and 6.2 million tonnes in 2025, with approximately 20% exported, mainly mixed aluminium generated through vehicle shredding.

Mr Cochet said recyclers generally prefer local sales but argued that European demand does not currently absorb all end-of-life aluminium products generated within the region.

He added that export restrictions or a ban could result in storage challenges, delayed investments, cancelled projects and reduced collection or processing of recycled material. Instead, he called on the European Commission to collaborate with the recycling sector to strengthen Europe’s industrial base.

Mr Bayram also expressed concern regarding potential trade restrictions, stating that any ban or trade interference would “take money out of the pocket of recyclers”.

Alejandro Jaramillo, Founding Partner of Glorem in Mexico, highlighted the investment risks associated with recycling operations and added:

“It’s very relevant that that we’re part of the discussion and that our industry is protected as well.”

Calls for Continued Dialogue

During the discussion, Recycling Europe’s President Olivier François suggested that the latest review of the EU’s Emissions Trading System could create opportunities for recyclers and consumers to cooperate.

He proposed a mechanism that could compensate recyclers “for any loss in the price or the value of what we prepare”, helping to maintain investment in recycling and encourage greater use of recycled aluminium within Europe.

“Maybe this is a win-win way to do something together,” he suggested.

Responding to the proposal, Mr Voss said:

“Of course, we can talk about this.”

Concluding the session, Mr Katrakis said many recyclers view export restrictions or a ban on aluminium scrap exports as “a medicine that won’t cure the disease”.

However, he stressed the importance of continued engagement between stakeholders.

“We appreciate the debate,” he said, “and that’s absolutely essential because, as we keep saying, if we fail, you fail.”