Abu Dhabi temporarily bans exports of iron scrap, waste paper and cardboards

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has temporarily banned all facilities in Abu Dhabi from exporting iron scrap, waste paper and cardboards.

The decision is applicable for a period of four months starting May 15, 2020 and can be renewed, following the decree issued by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, MOE, No. 1/77 of 2020, reported official news agency WAM.

Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, under-secretary of ADDED, said that the decision was aimed at helping local production facilities maintain business continuity and to ensure that local producers have access to raw material supplies locally for their manufacturing operations.

The official added that by ensuring that all commodities and raw materials are available locally, it would increase the country’s level of self-sufficiency for these raw materials.

This move supports SMEs whose capability to import raw materials has been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The current crisis had made exporting iron scraps a challenge for the Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector, while it has also posed a challenge to companies importing them from abroad due to their high cost amid the current increased demand for these materials.

Abu Dhabi Customs said that the emirate had exported over 6,163 tons of iron scrap in 2019, compared to 1,590 tons in 2018.

Meanwhile, 29,530 tons of paper waste were exported last year, compared to 2,230 tons in 2018.

These figures showed there has been a significant increase in the volume of exports of iron and paper waste.

The UAE government has taken the steps to recycle these materials by national companies itself.

Al Balooshi said that any violations to the temporary export ban may lead to financial penalties or closure of facilities, in accordance with the articles of the Table of Economic Activities and Violations in Abu Dhabi.