Global plastic waste export volume 2025, by country

In 2025, Germany was the world's largest plastic waste exporter, with shipments totaling over *** thousand metric tons. The United Kingdom ranked second that year, with exports amounting to some *** thousand tons. Japan was the third largest exporter, with *** thousand tons. Six out of the top 10 plastic exporters that year were located in Europe.

Trends in plastic waste exports

In 2025, global plastic exports were estimated at around ****million metric tons, the second lowest figure recorded in over a decade. Exports have decreased significantly in the past decade. 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 2025. Meanwhile, plastic waste exports from Japan – the third largest exporter worldwide - were mainly directed to Malaysia and Vietnam. Globally, Turkey and Germany were the largest plastic waste importers in 2025.