Key facts
- India imported US$9,840 million of aluminium scrap and billets in FY2024-25 (tradingeconomics.com).
- Sourced from 5 origin countries: US, GB, AE, SA, NL.
- Certifications available from the supply base: ISO 9001, ISO 14001.
- Typical minimum order: Typically one 40' container per grade (typical).
Product overview
Imports meet roughly 55% of India's aluminium demand (FY2023-24), and scrap imports were about 1.77 Mt in FY2023-24 (Aluminium Association of India via research file). Comtrade put chapter 76 imports at US$9.84 bn in CY2025. The USA, UK, UAE, Malaysia, China and Saudi Arabia are the main sources.
Buyers are secondary smelters making alloy ingots for auto die-casting, extruders, and deoxidiser makers — a fragmented base concentrated in Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Silvassa and Chennai. Scrap is traded by ISRI grade (Tense, Taint/Tabor, Zorba, Troma, UBC) at a discount to LME aluminium.
Policy risk is real: the primary aluminium industry has lobbied for a higher scrap duty and mandatory BIS scrap standards, while recyclers lobby to remove the duty. As of July 2026 no BIS scrap standard had been notified (AAI).
HS note: Zorba (mixed non-ferrous shred) may contain other metals and is classified by predominant content; unwrought aluminium/billets are 7601.
Specifications
| Grades (ISRI) | Tense (mixed clean cast), Taint/Tabor (clean mixed old alloy sheet), Zorba (shredded non-ferrous), Troma (shredded), Taldon/Taldork (UBC) (typical) |
|---|---|
| Metal recovery | Grade-dependent; Zorba sold by aluminium content (e.g. ~90–98% non-ferrous) (typical) |
| Contaminants | Free of radioactive material, hazardous residues, excess moisture, iron and dirt per ISRI terms |
| Radiation | Radiation-free certificate required (typical) |
| Form | Bales, briquettes or loose in jumbo bags (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Zorba
Shredded mixed non-ferrous from auto shredders; needs sink-float separation in India.
Tense / Taint-Tabor
Cleaner cast and sheet scrap for alloy-ingot makers.
UBC / extrusion scrap
Used beverage cans and 6000-series extrusion scrap for higher-value remelt.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bales / jumbo bags / loose | ~0.5–1 t bales or bags (typical) | Loading supervised to avoid mixed grades |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~15–20 t depending on density (typical) · 40' HC ~20–26 t baled; UBC loads are volume-limited (typical). Low-density scrap needs good baling to reach payload
Customisation: Grade sorting, baling and alloy segregation at origin
Where Indian buyers are
Main Indian demand centres we distribute to.
Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Mundra/Kandla (Kutch), Rajkot
Secondary smelters and alloy-ingot makers near ports
Haryana / Delhi NCR
Faridabad, Rewari, Delhi
Die-casting alloy suppliers to two-wheeler and auto industry
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Silvassa
Aluminium recyclers and extruders
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Auto die-casting supply chain
Maharashtra
Pune, Mumbai
Extruders and auto components
Sourcing origins
US
Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Houston, Savannah
Largest source of graded aluminium scrap (Zorba, Taint/Tabor, UBC).
GB
London (Tilbury), Felixstowe, Liverpool
Steady supply of Tense, Taint/Tabor and extrusion scrap.
AE
Dubai (Jebel Ali), Sharjah
Regional aggregation hub; short transit to Indian west-coast ports.
SA
Dammam, Jeddah
GCC construction and industrial scrap.
NL
Rotterdam
European aggregation and Zorba from shredders.
Origin market notes
United States & Canada
US Zorba and Taint/Tabor are the backbone of India's aluminium scrap supply; Indian buyers compete with other Asian buyers, and any US export curbs on scrap would hurt supply (ASSUMPTION — monitor).
Gulf (GCC)
UAE and Saudi scrap ships quickly to Gujarat ports; GCC smelters also offer primary billets as a related line (research file).
Other markets
UK origin offers consistent Taint/Tabor and Tense; check UK/EU waste-shipment rules at origin.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Trade policy note
As of 2026-11: metal scrap imports need a DGFT-recognised pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSIC) and compliance with the Hazardous & Other Wastes Rules 2016 for the scrap category. BCD on aluminium scrap was 2.5% as of mid-2026 — the AAI asked for it to stay at 2.5% until BIS scrap standards are notified, while recyclers lobby for removal. No BIS scrap standard was notified as of Jul 2026. The Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Products QCO 2026 (13 Mar 2026) covers products, not scrap; ADD exists on aluminium foil, and a Malaysian wire-rod anti-subsidy case is open. Sources: https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/aluminium-association-india-urges-centre-notify-bis-standards-182.htm; https://www.alcircle.com/news/india-mandates-bis-certification-for-aluminium-products-under-qco-2026-117680; research/02-indian-imports.md.
Quality control
- • DGFT-recognised pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSIC)
- • Radiation-free certificate
- • Loading photos, seal records
- • Recovery/assay check by melt test at destination
Certifications available
- • ISO 9001
- • ISO 14001
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading
- • Certificate of origin
- • Pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSIC)
- • Radiation-free certificate
- • Weight certificate
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India importsLine: Aluminium scrap and billets | 9,840 | verified | tradingeconomics.com |
Comtrade ch.76 USD 9.84 bn CY2025; imports ~55% of demand FY24; scrap 1,768 kt FY24 (AAI)
Import routes
Frequently asked questions
Is BIS certification required to import aluminium scrap into India?
No BIS scrap standard had been notified as of July 2026. The Aluminium Products QCO 2026 covers finished aluminium products, not scrap, but the industry is pressing for scrap standards, so watch for new notifications.
What is the import duty on aluminium scrap?
Basic customs duty was 2.5% as of mid-2026 according to industry reporting, with lobbying both to raise and to remove it. Check the ICEGATE calculator for HS 7602 before contracting.
What documents are needed for aluminium scrap imports?
A pre-shipment inspection certificate from a DGFT-recognised agency, a radiation-free certificate, invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Which aluminium scrap grades do Indian buyers prefer?
Secondary smelters mainly buy Zorba, Tense and Taint/Tabor for die-casting alloys; extruders and higher-value remelters prefer extrusion scrap and UBC.
Where are India's aluminium scrap buyers located?
Mainly in Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi NCR, Silvassa, Chennai and Pune, close to auto die-casting and extrusion industries.
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