大沥主要利用国内外两个市场，进口、回收废旧金属，形成了比较完整和相对稳定的回收网络、流通渠道和区域性废金属市场。据海关统计，2003年大沥直接进口废旧金属物资50多万吨，其中铜10万吨，铝20万吨，废不锈钢5万吨，废塑料20万吨，在国内回收废旧金属及边角料约50万吨。除此之外，每年还有其他区域的废旧金属物资100万吨左右进入大沥，进行交易。利用再生铝合金的下游产业主要是型材加工、摩托车汽车配件、压铸件和铸造业。

Economic target of 2006

Total value of import and export        US$ 0.3 billion
Recycled aluminum alloy scrap           85 thousand tons
Recycled copper scrap                   80 thousand tons
Recycled packaging paper                880 thousand tons
Recycled plastics scrap                 60 thousand tons
Recycled metals scrap                   100 thousand tons
    From 2003 to 2005, the Zone has processed and utilized 750 thousand tons of secondary metals, 350 thousand tons of secondary plastics, 800 thousand tons of waste paper, saving, in comparison with exploiting original ores, 1.98 million tons of coal, 360 million tons of water, reducing the discharging volume of solid waste by 43 hundred tons and the emission of 33 thousand tons of sulfur dioxide, and maintaining the survival of 6 million trees.