Major Shipping Line Stopped Accepting Scrap Exports to China

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced that it will no longer accept cargoes of recovered fiber and other scrap materials bound for China. In addition, it will not accept shipments to Hong Kong too. The decision comes in the wake of Chinese government’s plans to reclassify scrap materials effective July this year and impose complete ban on imports starting next year. The shipping line has already issued notification to its customers.

The top Chinese lawmaking body, in its meeting held end-April this year, had approved several legislations, including ones which recommend major revisions to its solid waste management policies. The official document published in Chinese mentions the country’s move to zero import of solid waste by 2021, which would bring in further restrictions in future, ultimately leading to a total ban.

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MSC noted that the recent change in legislature is applicable to all solid waste cargoes including waste paper, plastics, metals and chemicals. Also, early reports indicate that the Chinese administration plans to hold cargo carriers jointly liable along with importing companies for any violation of the ban. This may end up in shipping lines accountable for paying hefty penalties.

No other major shipping line has announced a similar step so far, said the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).