United Kingdom

As 2025 draws to a close, many across the UK non-ferrous trade would agree that the sector has faced a challenging year. Whether the result of environment-related changes, export pressures or evolving requirements around material handling, the industry has continued adapting to new expectations and regulatory conditions.

From the economic perspective, merchants are reporting that the year in general was looking flat. However, the mid-year increases seen in key grades - including copper and aluminium - provided some much-needed momentum. Stronger pricing encouraged material back into yards, and this continues to offer some support despite the broader challenges.

The main news currently shaping sentiment in the UK is the liquidation of Unimetals Recycling. The company’s collapse has affected a number of businesses while creating an uncertain future for the large number of Unimetals staff across its various sites.

In terms of materials being traded in or out of the UK, margins have widened across many grades over the past month or two. Even with aluminium remaining relatively high, secondary grades in particular are showing a clear disconnect between market prices and what consumers, traders and exporters are prepared to follow. Lead has achieved some upward movement but remains below where many in the trade feel it should be. Stainless steel also continues to sit at a low point within the UK market, with merchants looking to export at present.

The budget delivered in late November by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves sets out a series of tax rises and spending measures designed to keep the government within its fiscal rules, with day‑to‑day spending matched by tax receipts. For households, the budget confirmed the continued freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds until 2031, meaning more people will gradually move into higher tax bands, while families will benefit from the removal of the two‑child benefit cap from 2026 and also from a 4.8% rise in the state pension. Energy bills are set to fall by around £150 from April next year, and train fares and prescription charges will be frozen for a year, offering some relief on living costs. On the business side, corporation tax remains capped at 25% but wage costs will rise with increases to the minimum and living wage.

Importantly for UK metal recyclers, the government rejected a single rate of landfill tax and instead will narrow the gap between the standard and lower rates - a move that could increase disposal costs but also reduce abuse of the system, creating a fairer environment for legitimate operators.

Time will tell whether these plans will affect our trade in terms of business operations in the next year, especially regarding energy usage and rising employment costs.

As the industry looks ahead, there is hope that next year will bring more stability and also more positive opportunities for the non-ferrous sector. This year’s highlights included two strong BIR events in Valencia and Bangkok, which offered valuable opportunities for discussion and networking. The trade now looks forward to starting 2026 on a positive note, ahead of the next BIR Convention in Gothenburg.