Trade in recyclable raw materials by country
Countries reporting
35
Highest
17.39 million Tonne
Germany
Lowest
11,706 Tonne
Malta
Median
1.31 million Tonne
Years covered
22
2004β2025
Data points
792
What the numbers show
Trade in recyclable raw materials is currently reported for 35 countries. The highest value is 17.39 million Tonne in Germany; the lowest is 11,706 Tonne in Malta.
The median across all reporting countries is 1.31 million Tonne, and the mean is 2.97 million Tonne.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,486.
Over the past decade 27 countries rose and 8 fell. The largest increase was in Lithuania (up 141.5%), and the largest decrease in Malta (down 52.3%).
Trade in recyclable raw materials: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 17.39 million Tonne | 2025 | up 11.6% | rising |
| 2 | Belgium | 9.97 million Tonne | 2025 | down 11.2% | rising |
| 3 | Netherlands | 9.73 million Tonne | 2025 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 3 | Netherlands | 9.73 million Tonne | 2025 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 5 | Italy | 8.54 million Tonne | 2025 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 6 | France | 6.38 million Tonne | 2025 | down 18.3% | flat |
| 7 | Spain | 6.11 million Tonne | 2025 | down 3.9% | rising |
| 8 | Austria | 4.40 million Tonne | 2025 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 9 | Poland | 3.21 million Tonne | 2025 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 9 | Poland | 3.21 million Tonne | 2025 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 11 | Luxembourg | 2.57 million Tonne | 2025 | down 14.9% | falling |
| 12 | Czechia | 2.43 million Tonne | 2025 | up 29.0% | rising |
| 13 | Portugal | 1.78 million Tonne | 2025 | down 2.2% | rising |
| 14 | Hungary | 1.64 million Tonne | 2025 | up 18.4% | rising |
| 15 | Denmark | 1.63 million Tonne | 2025 | up 22.8% | rising |
| 16 | Sweden | 1.37 million Tonne | 2025 | up 23.7% | flat |
| 17 | Slovakia | 1.31 million Tonne | 2025 | up 55.4% | rising |
| 17 | Slovakia | 1.31 million Tonne | 2025 | up 55.4% | rising |
| 19 | Slovenia | 1.29 million Tonne | 2025 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 19 | Slovenia | 1.29 million Tonne | 2025 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 21 | Croatia | 905,548 Tonne | 2025 | up 56.7% | rising |
| 21 | Croatia | 905,548 Tonne | 2025 | up 56.7% | rising |
| 23 | Ireland | 822,396 Tonne | 2025 | up 26.9% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 808,928 Tonne | 2025 | up 141.5% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 808,928 Tonne | 2025 | up 141.5% | rising |
| 26 | Romania | 766,810 Tonne | 2025 | up 39.6% | volatile |
| 27 | Finland | 697,001 Tonne | 2025 | up 59.9% | falling |
| 28 | Bulgaria | 659,902 Tonne | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 29 | Greece | 617,139 Tonne | 2025 | up 1.3% | falling |
| 30 | Latvia | 514,884 Tonne | 2025 | up 31.6% | rising |
| 30 | Latvia | 514,884 Tonne | 2025 | up 31.6% | rising |
| 32 | Estonia | 190,777 Tonne | 2025 | up 21.7% | rising |
| 32 | Estonia | 190,777 Tonne | 2025 | up 21.7% | rising |
| 34 | Cyprus | 36,494 Tonne | 2025 | down 17.9% | rising |
| 35 | Malta | 11,706 Tonne | 2025 | down 52.3% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 85.81 million Tonne