UAE officials are set to crack down on the misclassification of scrap exports, as scrap price volatility persists in the region. Despite recent price hikes of AED 10-15/tonne ($3-4) over the past two days, driven by rising exports, authorities have assured steel sector participants that a customs crackdown on misclassified scrap exports may commence next Monday.

However, industry players remain skeptical, as such verbal promises have been made in the past without being followed through. The scrap industry in the UAE has grown accustomed to these assurances, which have yet to translate into concrete actions. Nonetheless, the impending crackdown signals a potential shift in the regulatory landscape, aiming to bring greater transparency and compliance to the scrap export market.