Feasibility check: Why the US aluminium industry can’t afford to lose Canada
The United States and Canada have long shared more than just a border — they’ve built an aluminium supply chain that’s deeply intertwined and vital to both economies. As the US grapples with declining aluminium production and mounting energy costs, the importance of Canada’s role has never been clearer. Let’s break down why the US aluminium industry leans so heavily on its northern neighbour — and why replacing Canada simply isn’t an option.
A shrinking giant: The state of US aluminium production
Once a global leader in aluminium production, the US now produces just 1.2 per cent of the world’s aluminium supply. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the US had a primary aluminium production capacity of 1.36 million tonnes in 2024, but only half of that capacity was in use, producing a mere 680,000 tonnes. To put this in perspective, the US imported over 4.8 million tonnes of crude and semi-manufactured aluminium products last year — and Canada alone supplied 2.6 million tonnes of that total.
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