The Russian government has announced a decision to impose export quotas subject to customs duties on shipments of iron scrap and mixed ferrous metals to countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31 of the same year. The move aims to provide industrial companies with the opportunity to sell surplus raw materials in foreign markets that are not experiencing strong domestic demand, helping to reduce the oversupply in the Russian market.
Earlier, in August, the government had increased the existing export quota to countries outside the EAEU from 1.5 million tons to 1.8 million tons, which was valid until the end of 2025, according to reports from SteelOrbis. Under the new decree, the quota has been further raised to 2.2 million tons to better meet the needs of foreign markets.
According to the decree, exports within the quota will be subject to a 5% customs duty, with a minimum of €15 per ton. Quantities exceeding the quota will also be taxed at 5%, but with a higher minimum of €290 per ton.
The quota for 2026 will be allocated in two main stages: part of it will be distributed based on historical export performance from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, while a smaller portion will be allocated to companies that did not export iron scrap during 2024–2025, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
The decree also requires companies exporting scrap within the quota to obtain a one-time export license issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The license must be valid either on the date of customs declaration registration or on the actual export date, in accordance with established customs procedures. This measure is intended to regulate the market and ensure fair distribution of quotas among companies, supporting the government’s objectives to control oversupply and promote Russian metal exports.
