China government set on total ban on scrap imports

© Kre_geg | Dreamstime.com - Waste paper

While carriers nervously wait to see how the unfolding trade war between the US and China affects their volumes, another previously lucrative trade may disappear. While waste paper, plastics and steel carried from Europe and the US to China never commanded the highest freight rates – to be fair, they were normally the lowest – it was better than nothing. But, China at the beginning of this year introduced a partial ban on waste imports – seeking to tackle its air pollution problem – possibly hit as much as 5m teu of global box traffic, according to Drewry. Well, according to Recycling Today, it is now intent on a complete ban by 2020.