Page 13 from: Recycling International Jan/Feb 2025
TRENDS & UPDATES
13recyclinginternational.com | January/February | 2025
STEEL MAJOR SIDENOR BUYS EPLUS TO
SECURE METALS SUPPLY
Spanish steel company Sidenor Group has acquired industri-
al scrap recycler Eplus.
Eplus processes mostly ferrous and non-ferrous metals as
well as paper, cardboard and plastics in Barcelona.
Sidenor, which produces specialty steel grades, says the move
is part of a strategy to reduce carbon emissions and improve
sustainability. The deal was concluded in December.
It was Sidenor’s second acquisition in 2024. Last January, it took
over Miguel Martín based in Madrid. It also bought Aguilar
Metal Recycling in 2022.
Sidenor has production facilities in the Basque Country,
Cantabria and Catalonia, as well as commercial offices in sever-
al European countries. The steel player says it is now well-posi-
tioned to access a substantial metal supply.
CASH BOOST FOR UK E-WASTE PIONEERS
UK innovator DEScycle is planning a pre-commercial pilot plant
to recycle metals from electronic waste.
The company is developing the technology of deep eutectic sol-
vents (DES), new mixtures whose melting point is lower than that
of its constituents. DEScycle has successfully closed a £10.2 million
(EUR 12.2 million) Series A round led by BGF, one of the largest
and most experienced growth capital investors in the UK and
Ireland with Berlin based Vorwerk Ventures as co-lead.
The cash is funding the construction and operation of a pre-com-
mercial pilot plant at Wilton International on Teesside in the north-
east of England. The plant will demonstrate the company’s DES-
based technology in a real environment, as well as providing data
for a commercial operation.
Future plans include the opening of an e-waste recycling facility in
nearby Gateshead
with the support from
DEScycle’s joint ven-
ture partner, GAP
Group, one of the
UK’s largest e-waste
recyclers. The com-
mercial plant will be
able to recycle 5 000
tonnes of e-waste per
year, producing cop-
per and palladium
and gold.
FURTHER DECLINE IN SHIP RECYCLING
The number of merchant ships recycled in 2024 fell to a
near-record 20-year low, according to Lloyd’s List.
The journal reports that 324 merchant ships totalling 4.6m
tonnes were recycled, the lowest level since 2005 and more
than 30% down on the gross tonnage recycled in 2023.
Only 17 crude oil tankers and product tankers were pro-
cessed. The general cargo segment provided 30% of the
ships recycled.
Lloyd’s says that strong growth in cargo volumes meant vin-
tage tonnage remained in the trading fleet. Additionally,
lower investment in new ships during 2010s has resulted in
second-hand values rising since 2021, with values of vin-
tage vessels usually in excess of scrap sale prices.
Ship recyclers are said to be offering relatively high prices,
partially due to a shortage of candidates coming on the
market. It also notes that cheap imports from China have
reduced the demand for recycled metals from ships in the
Indian subcontinent.
On the other hand, with some 1 300 tankers and 1 250 bulk
carriers older than 20 years still in service, and a further 680
container ships built before 2005, recycling is expected to
pick up this year.
Go to page 16 to read our update on ship recycling.
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