Kazakhstan scrap export ban puts Russian metallurgy at risk

This step is aimed at reducing domestic prices for raw materials, which should support domestic metallurgists. However, the decision will have a negative impact on Russian electrometallurgical enterprises, which are heavily dependent on imported scrap.
The fact is that Russian electrometallurgists do not have their own raw material base and use scrap purchased on the market for steel production. It is expected that due to the ban imposed by Kazakhstan the shortage of scrap in the Russian market may increase by 500 thousand tonnes.
The Russian Association of Electrometallurgical Enterprises (AEMP) has already appealed to the relevant agencies with a request to influence Kazakhstan's decision.
It should be noted that Kazakhstan has applied similar measures before, implementing bans on scrap exports from 2014 to 2018. However, at that time the restrictions did not apply to Russia, as both countries are part of the common custom Union.
Before 2014, China was the main consumer of Kazakh scrap, with Russia accounting for only 10-15%. However, after the export ban was introduced in 2014, Russia became the leading importer, with purchases reaching 1 million tonnes per year.
It is also important to note that Russia itself restricts scrap exports by setting a quota of 600,000 tonnes, which is valid until July 2024. When exporting ferrous scrap and waste within the quota, the duty is 5%, but not less than €15 per tonne, and above the quota - 5%, but not less than €290 per tonne. However, these restrictions do not apply to member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), to which both countries are members.