1.
Temporary
Export Ban: Dubai Customs has
imposed a temporary export
ban on selected industrial waste and scrap materials.
2.
Reason
for the Ban: The
measure aims to:
o Secure valuable raw materials for domestic
processing.
o Ensure adequate supply for local smelters
and manufacturing industries.
3.
Timing: The ban comes as the Strait of Hormuz is
gradually reopening and regional trade flows are resuming.
4.
Effective
Period:
o Effective from: 10 June 2026
o Valid until: 8 October 2026
o The ban may be automatically renewed
unless officially withdrawn.
5.
Industry
Concern:
According to the Bureau of
International Recycling (BIR) and the Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR):
o The restrictions negatively impact scrap
recyclers and traders.
o Exports had only recently begun recovering
following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
6.
Likely
Motivation:
Industry representatives believe the decision was influenced by local smelters, which
seek to retain scrap materials for domestic use.
7.
Materials
Covered: The
export prohibition applies to selected scrap categories under specified Harmonized System (HS) codes,
including:
o Iron scrap: HS Codes 72041000, 72042100, 72042900, 72043000, 72044100, 72044900
o Copper scrap: HS Code 74040000
o Aluminium scrap: HS Code 76020000
8.
Exemptions
Allowed:
Exports may still be permitted with approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade
for:
o Shipments under valid international
contracts signed before the ban.
o Shipments approved in the public interest.
9.
Exemption
Process:
Companies seeking exemptions must submit applications to the Ministry of Foreign Trade
through its trade information platform.
10. Penalties: Violations of the export ban will attract
penalties under the Unified
Customs Law and its implementing regulations.
·
Country: United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
·
Authority: Dubai Customs
·
Nature
of Measure:
Temporary export ban on selected industrial waste and scrap
·
Objective: Secure raw materials for domestic
processing and local smelters
·
Effective
Date: 10
June 2026
·
Expiry
Date: 8
October 2026 (subject to automatic renewal)
·
Materials
Covered:
o Iron scrap (HS: 72041000, 72042100,
72042900, 72043000, 72044100, 72044900)
o Copper scrap (HS: 74040000)
o Aluminium scrap (HS: 76020000)
·
Exemption
Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Trade
·
Legal
Basis for Penalties:
Unified Customs Law and its implementing regulations
·
Trade
Context:
Introduced during the reopening of the Strait
of Hormuz, when regional exports were beginning to recover.
As
the Strait of Hormuz slowly but surely re-opens, Dubai Customs have imposed a temporary
export ban on selected industrial waste and scrap materials. The protection measure
is to secure valuable raw materials for local processing.
According
to the Bureau of International Recycling, the restriction includes ‘certain iron,
copper and aluminium scrap categories’.
The
measure came into force on 10 June and will remain in place until 8 October. The
ban may be renewed automatically unless a further notice is issued to cancel it.
According
to Dubai-based Mir Mujtaba, president of the Bureau of Middle East Recycling Mujtaba, the
restrictions are bad news for scrap recyclers and traders. ‘This comes just as the
Strait of Hormuz is re-opening. Exports are picking up again, and the supply of
materials to and from Dubai is restarting.’
Mujtaba
adds that ‘it looks like the decision to impose a ban has been made under pressure
of local smelters’ – in order to keep materials for themselves.
Certain materials
The
export prohibition applies to waste and scrap materials falling under specified
HS codes, which include iron (codes 72041000, 72042100, 72042900, 72043000, 72044100
and 72044900), as well as copper (code 74040000) and aluminium (code 76020000).
A full list is available in the official notice issues by the Dubai authorities.
Exemptions
According
to BIR, the notice provides for possible exemptions, subject to approval by the
Ministry of Foreign Trade. These may apply to shipments prepared for export under
valid international contracts concluded before the ban was issued, as well as to
shipments considered eligible for exemption in the public interest.
Companies
seeking an exemption must submit a request to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Further
information on the exemption process is available through the Ministry’s trade information
platform.
Penalties
Dubai
Customs stated that ‘violations of the temporary export ban will be subject to penalties
under the Unified Customs Law and its implementing regulations’.