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In 2024, Germany was the world's largest plastic waste exporter, with shipments totaling over *** thousand metric tons. Japan ranked second that year, with exports amounting to some *** thousand tons. Six out of the top 10 plastic exporters that year were located in Europe.

Trends in plastic waste exports

In 2022, global plastic exports were estimated at over **** million metric tons, the lowest figure recorded in over a decade. Exports have decreased significantly in the past decade, from more than ** million metric tons in 2010. This was a result of stricter regulations on the quality of waste allowed to be exported and the imposition of a series of import bans across the world - the latter mainly in Asian countries who historically received the bulk of global plastic waste exports.

Where does plastic waste end up?

Nowadays, plastic waste flows are mostly intraregional. Since China’s ban on plastic waste imports in 2018, Turkey emerged as the leading destination for plastic waste exports from the European Union, receiving some *** thousand metric tons in 2023. Meanwhile, plastic waste exports from Japan – the second largest exporter worldwide - were mainly directed to Malaysia and Vietnam. Globally, Turkey and the Netherlands were the largest plastic waste importers in 2023.