EU member states imported and exported more recyclable raw materials than ever before in 2021. According to the EU statistical office Eurostat, exports to countries outside the bloc – or "third countries" – totalled 40.6 million tonnes last year. This was 5 per cent more than in the previous year and almost 80 per cent more than in 2004, the first year for which data is available. Imports also increased by 5 per cent to 46.8 million tonnes in 2021, according to the statics office's figures. In a long-term comparison, however, there had been only a small increase of 7 per cent for imports compared to 2004.
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