EU–China › Ores, slag & ash
EU–China trade in ores, slag & ash
In May 2026, the EU exported €292M of ores, slag & ash to China and imported €9.4M — a €282M surplus in this category.
The EU's ores, slag & ash surplus with China has widened by about 72% over the past year, from €164M to €282M.
China supplied about 0% of the EU's extra-EU imports of ores, slag & ash in May 2026.
Updated monthly · latest data May 2026
— EU exports— EU imports137 months · latest 2026-05
EU exports
€292M
EU imports
€9.4M
Balance
€282M
Top sub-categories traded with China
EU exports →
- 2603Copper ores and concentrates€238M
- 2616Precious-metal ores and concentrates€17M
- 2604Nickel ores and concentrates€16M
- 2613Molybdenum ores and concentrates€12M
- 2608Zinc ores and concentrates€4.9M
← EU imports
- 2618Granulated slag "slag sand" from the manufacture of iron or steel€5.9M
- 2606Aluminium ores and concentrates€1.6M
- 2621Slag and ash, incl. seaweed ash "kelp"; ash and residues from the incineration of municipal waste (excl. slag, incl. granulated, from the manufacture of iron or steel and ashes and residues containing arsenic, metals or metal compounds)(2002-2500);Slag and ash, incl. seaweed ash "kelp" (excl. slag, incl. granulated, from the manufacture of iron or steel and ashes and residues containing metals or metal compounds)(1988-2001)€1.1M
- 2620Slag, ash and residues containing metals, arsenic or their compounds (excl. those from the manufacture of iron or steel)€0.3M
- 2601Iron ores and concentrates, incl. roasted iron pyrites€0.2M
Monthly figures
| Month | EU exports | EU imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | €292M | €9.4M | €282M |
| April 2026 | €343M | €8.8M | €334M |
| March 2026 | €206M | €10M | €196M |
| February 2026 | €285M | €9.4M | €276M |
| January 2026 | €246M | €6.5M | €239M |
| December 2025 | €341M | €3.8M | €338M |
| November 2025 | €113M | €11M | €101M |
| October 2025 | €287M | €4.1M | €283M |
| September 2025 | €182M | €5.6M | €176M |
| August 2025 | €126M | €12M | €114M |
| July 2025 | €146M | €6.1M | €140M |
| June 2025 | €223M | €6.8M | €217M |
| May 2025 | €177M | €13M | €164M |
| April 2025 | €98M | €7.7M | €91M |
| March 2025 | €116M | €4.5M | €112M |
| February 2025 | €218M | €5.9M | €212M |
| January 2025 | €141M | €8.8M | €132M |
| December 2024 | €136M | €5.5M | €130M |
| November 2024 | €208M | €4.2M | €204M |
| October 2024 | €221M | €9.2M | €212M |
| September 2024 | €104M | €23M | €81M |
| August 2024 | €212M | €4.0M | €208M |
| July 2024 | €176M | €9.4M | €166M |
| June 2024 | €237M | €6.1M | €231M |
EU exports, imports and balance by month — extra-EU, EU27 reporter, latest 24 months.
Related trade lanes
Source: Eurostat — Comext DS-059341 · EU27 reporter · extra-EU trade · value in EUR. Figures are indicative and may be revised; verify against Eurostat before relying on them.