Practical B2B Reference
Rotterdam-Loaded, SGS Verified
Updated for 2026 Trading
Used beverage cans (UBC) are the most recycled aluminum stream in Europe. The closed-loop nature of the can sheet industry — body and lid alloys are designed for re-melt — makes UBC a predictable feedstock for can sheet mills, deox shot producers and secondary smelters worldwide.
This guide covers the ISRI Talc specification, what a clean European UBC bale should look like, how density and moisture affect the landed cost, and the questions to ask before accepting a CIF Rotterdam offer.
UBC stands for Used Beverage Cans — empty aluminum cans collected from deposit return schemes, kerbside recycling and commercial waste streams. Once de-coated and remelted, UBC returns to the rolling mill as 3104/5182 can sheet, completing one of the few genuinely circular metal loops in industry.
Trade-grade UBC is baled, not loose. The ISRI designation is 'Talc' and the specification limits dirt, attached steel and moisture to defined percentages.
A standard European UBC bale measures roughly 70 × 70 × 110 cm and weighs 350–500 kg. Bale density should be above 480 kg/m³ for efficient container loading. Loosely-pressed bales below this density signal poor sorting upstream and usually carry hidden contamination.
Moisture is critical. Anything above 4% means residual liquid is still sitting at the bottom of cans, which causes weight inflation and, more dangerously, steam explosions during smelter charging.
A 20GP container holds 38–44 UBC bales depending on bale size, for a total payload of 17–20 MT. A 40HC container can reach 24–27 MT. Sellers quoting higher numbers are either compressing oversized bales or accepting moisture above spec.
When the buyer's costing assumes 20 MT in a 20GP but the actual loaded weight is 17 MT, the per-tonne CIF cost rises 15%. Always confirm minimum container weight in writing.
The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the Nordic countries operate the most efficient deposit return schemes in the world, with collection rates above 90% in several markets. This is the source pool we draw from for export-grade UBC.
Material is consolidated at sorting facilities, magnetically separated to remove steel cans and tabs, baled to spec and stored under cover. From there it moves by truck to Rotterdam, Antwerp or Hamburg for container stuffing.
A well-sorted European UBC bale delivers 88–92% metallic yield after de-coating and remelting. The losses come from paint and lacquer burn-off, attached non-aluminum tabs, and a small percentage of dross.
Buyers should price UBC against this yield, not against gross weight. A bale that looks visually clean but contains 10% steel cans (from poor magnetic sorting) destroys melt economics and triggers downgrade claims.
Visual check: bales tight, uniform shape, no loose cans, no obvious foreign material. Probe check: drive a sample bar into a random bale and inspect for moisture and hidden waste. Magnetic check: pass a hand magnet across the bale surface to confirm absence of steel cans.
For larger contracts, an SGS or Intertek pre-shipment inspection covering 10% of bales is standard. The cost is usually built into the CIF price.
UBC is priced as a percentage of LME aluminum cash, typically 70–78% CIF Asian and Middle Eastern ports. The wide band reflects bale density, expected yield and current can sheet demand in the destination market.
China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the active import markets in 2026, with India and Vietnam absorbing the largest European volumes.
| Parameter | Typical European Spec |
|---|---|
| Composition | Aluminum beverage cans only |
| Bale density | ≥ 480 kg/m³ |
| Bale weight | 350 – 500 kg |
| Moisture | ≤ 4% |
| Free liquid | None |
| Attached steel | ≤ 1% |
| Plastic / paper / dirt | ≤ 2% |
| 20GP container fill | 17 – 20 MT |
| 40HC container fill | 24 – 27 MT |
| Expected metallic yield | 88 – 92% |
Contact our sales team for competitive pricing, bulk orders, and customized solutions.MOQ: 25 MT | Monthly Capacity: 20,000 MT