As reported by Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in 2012 German exports of waste such as scrap metal, waste paper, waste plastics and slag decreased significantly in 2012 compared to 2011 by 7.3 percent to 22.6 million mt. Imports of waste decreased over the same period by 6.1 percent to 16.3 million mt. Destatis said that the value of the waste traded in 2012 amounted to €11 billion for both imports and exports. Hence, the value of exports declined by 4.6 percent, while the value of imports fell by 4.1 percent, both from a year earlier.
In 2012, scrap metals and alloys had a share of 84.2 percent in the total turnover in Germany's foreign trade of waste. The value of scrap metal and alloy exports was €9.1 billion in the given year, decreasing 4.3 percent, totaling 11.3 million mt, down 3.3 percent, both compared to the previous year. The value of metal and alloy scrap imports was €9.3 billion, down 3.8 percent, amounting to 7.1 million mt, falling 11.7 percent, on year-on-year basis.
The most important trading partner for German foreign trade of waste in 2012 were the European Union member states. 17.4 million mt of waste with the value of €8.1 billion were exported from Germany to other EU countries, while 13.8 million mt of waste valued at €7.7 billion were imported into Germany from EU countries.
