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A recent report indicates that the European shipping industry possesses a large quantity of high-quality scrap steel resources, but currently, most ship dismantling is carried out overseas, posing safety and environmental risks. B23HS075 oriented electrical steel, The report suggests that by improving the policy framework, including strengthening traceability requirements, enhancing enforcement and supervision, and providing financial incentives, ship scrap steel can be transformed into a crucial pillar of Europe's circular economy and low-carbon steel system.
Mantoan, a policy officer at the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, stated that this is not only beneficial from an environmental perspective but also represents a strategic opportunity for European industry.
Currently, the European steel industry accounts for approximately 5% of the EU's total carbon emissions, B23HS075 oriented electrical steel, emitting about 190 million tons of CO₂ annually. Reducing the carbon footprint of the steel industry is a crucial step in achieving the EU's decarbonization goals.
The report, jointly released by the Shipbreaking Platform, Sandbag (a climate policy think tank), and the University of Tuscia, focuses on the strategic role of scrap steel from decommissioned ships in the decarbonization transition of the European steel industry.
The report points out that with increasing low-carbon requirements and the adoption of new steelmaking technologies, B23HS075 oriented electrical steel, the demand for scrap steel in the steel industry will continue to grow in the coming years.
However, due to the lack of clear material composition data and certification systems, the actual value of a large amount of ship scrap steel has not been fully realized.
The report suggests that by improving material traceability and standardizing documentation, direct reuse of ship scrap steel in sectors such as construction can be achieved, significantly enhancing both economic and environmental benefits while optimizing recycling efficiency.
As a large number of ships reach the end of their service life, the high-quality scrap steel they contain will become an important resource pool for reducing emissions in the EU steel industry.
To achieve the EU's climate goals, the steel industry must accelerate its transition from the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route to electric arc furnace (EAF) low-carbon steelmaking technology. B23HS075 oriented electrical steel, A key factor in this transition is securing a continuous and stable supply of high-quality scrap steel resources.
Therefore, increasing ship dismantling and recycling capacity within the EU has become a strategic priority.
Currently, only 1% of European ships are dismantled and recycled within the EU, with up to 70%-95% of a single ship's weight consisting of recyclable materials, primarily scrap steel.
Using scrap steel from ships for steel production can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to using iron ore, while also reducing energy and water consumption by approximately 40%.
Over the next ten years, the volume of ship dismantling in the EU/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will increase significantly, with peak scrap steel production reaching approximately 12 million tons per year. This scale can meet 10-15 million tons of the EU's annual scrap steel demand, representing about 20% of the total demand.
The report calls on the EU to improve transparency in end-of-life vessel data, strengthen material traceability and information disclosure, and ensure that dismantling is carried out in EU/EFTA shipyards that meet the highest safety and environmental standards.
Future EU legislation on the circular economy and industrial acceleration should explicitly support the development of sustainable ship recycling systems that comply with EU circular economy principles.
