Global plastic waste export volume 2023, by country

In 2023, Germany was the world's largest plastic waste exporter, with shipments totaling over 693 thousand metric tons. The UK ranked second that year, with exports amounting to some 615 thousand tons. Seven out of the top 10 plastic exporters that year were located in Europe.Trends in plastic waste exportsIn 2022, global plastic exports were estimated at some four million metric tons, the lowest figure recorded in over a decade. Exports have decreased significantly in the past decade, from more than 15 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 has emerged as the leading destination for plastic waste exports form the European Union, receiving some 315 thousand metric tons in 2023. Meanwhile, plastic waste exports from Japan – the third largest exporter worldwide - were mainly directed to Malaysia and Vietnam. Globally, the Netherlands and Turkey were the largest plastic waste importers in 2023.

于2023年，德国跃居全球最大的塑料废物出口国，其出口总量超过693万吨。英国紧随其后，当年出口量约为615千吨。当年排名前10位的塑料废物出口国中，有7个位于欧洲。在塑料废物出口的趋势方面，2022年全球塑料出口量估计约为400万吨，这是十年来最低的记录。在过去十年中，出口量显著下降，从2010年的超过1500万吨。这一变化源于对允许出口的废物质量实施更严格的法规，以及全球范围内一系列进口禁令的颁布——后者主要针对历史上接收全球大部分塑料废物出口的亚洲国家。塑料废物最终去向何方？如今，塑料废物流动主要局限于区域内。自2018年中国禁止塑料废物进口以来，土耳其已成为欧盟塑料废物出口的主要目的地，2023年接收量约为315千吨。与此同时，日本——全球第三大出口国——的塑料废物出口主要流向马来西亚和越南。在全球范围内，荷兰和土耳其是2023年最大的塑料废物进口国。