Could the UK’s aluminium scrap export spike risk domestic industrial strategy by 2035?

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Britain's increasing exports of aluminium scrap are raising concerns about the long-term availability of a key raw material. With the intensified push for sustainability across the world, aluminium scrap is a requisite by strategic sectors such as defence, automotive, clean energy and digital technologies. The UK’s aluminium scrap export surge, therefore, may raise concerns within the nation’s industrial chain.

Manufacturing body Make UK has cautioned that continued outflows of aluminium scrap could expose domestic supply chains to a vulnerable state. It might also discourage investment and prompt manufacturers to relocate operations to regions with stronger access to recycled feedstock.

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According to the organisation, the UK may require as much as 6 million tonnes of recyclable aluminium scrap by 2035 to support an estimated 8 million tonnes of aluminium demand, aligning with the nation's Critical Minerals Strategy and broader industrial objectives.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Daniel Paterson, Director of Sector Specialisms at Make UK, stated, “The size of the prize is significant, with UK aluminium (scrap) collection and sorting alone needing to grow by 25 per cent each year.”

He added that the opportunity could be lost “if the UK continues to export a critical material” that is increasingly important for the country’s “future economic growth sectors, and national security and resilience.”

The UK aluminium scrap drain

A Trade Data Monitor study showed that UK exports of aluminium waste and scrap reached 624,314 tonnes in 2025, representing a 43 per cent increase compared to 2016. Shipments to India rose by 94 per cent to 198,779 tonnes during the same period.

Moreover, Make UK mentioned in a press release that the “UK exports to the UK increased dramatically after Section 232 tariffs excluded aluminium scrap from their scope.” In 2025, UK aluminium scrap exports to the US amounted to 23,560 tonnes, indicating a staggering surge of 989 per cent year-on-year from 2024. 

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What does Make UK recommend?

To strengthen domestic recycling capabilities, Make UK has called for greater investment in sorting and pre-processing infrastructure, tighter collection standards and targeted measures to retain critical aluminium alloys within the country.

The organisation has also urged the government to engage with the European Union to mitigate the issue as it takes shape.

Make UK’s recommendations have come at a time when the European Commission is exploring measures to curb aluminium scrap exports as part of efforts to support recycling and decarbonisation across the bloc.

Explore the position of aluminium at the intersection of sustainability and strategy in Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment