More domestic aluminium, recycling and energy needed to strengthen US supply chain

With 18 years of experience in the aluminium industry, Charles Johnson brings a deep understanding of the policy, trade and sustainability issues shaping the US aluminium value chain. As President and CEO of the Aluminum Association, he represents an industry seeking to strengthen domestic supply while maintaining reliable access to imports.

In this interview with AL Circle, Johnson discusses why the US needs an “all-of-the-above” approach, combining greater primary production, expanded recycling, stronger energy infrastructure and targeted trade enforcement, to build a larger, more resilient aluminium supply base for American manufacturing.

AL Circle: How serious is the US aluminium supply gap right now, and which parts of the value chain are feeling the pressure most acutely?

Charles Johnson: A supply gap implies a true shortfall in metal availability, which we are not seeing in the market. With that said, the US needs more domestic aluminum supply. We currently import significant upstream aluminum to meet domestic demand, and that matters across an industry that supplies everything from cars and airplanes to packaging, buildings and our national defense. Closing that gap requires an all-of-the-above approach to metal supply.

AL Circle: What does an “all-of-the-above” approach to aluminium supply actually look like in practice?
Charles Johnson: There is no silver bullet. An all-of-the-above approach means producing more primary aluminum here at home, which will require major upgrades in US energy production and policy. It means recycling more of the metal already in circulation, which means government support and investment in collection and sortation. And it means maintaining healthy, reliable supply chains, which will require scrap export controls, and attention to primary aluminum imports while smelters are being built. America needs more metal, and we need every part of the industry working to supply it.

AL Circle: Can the US realistically rebuild enough primary aluminium capacity to significantly reduce its import dependence, or will imports remain an essential part of the supply mix?
Charles Johnson: We absolutely can and should grow US primary aluminum production, but new capacity takes significant time, capital and energy, so imports will continue to be part of the supply mix. This isn’t an either-or proposition; we need to grow domestic production while maintaining reliable access to the metal US manufacturers need.

AL Circle: How important are energy costs and availability to the success of the US smelter restart and expansion efforts, and what needs to change on the energy front?
Charles Johnson: Energy is fundamental. Aluminum production requires enormous amounts of reliable, competitively priced power, and we cannot meaningfully grow U.S. primary production without addressing that reality. We need a comprehensive energy strategy that expands generation, modernizes the grid and gets new energy infrastructure built faster.

AL Circle: Where do you see the greatest opportunity to increase aluminium recycling in the US? Are there specific bottlenecks in scrap collection, sorting, processing or remelting that need to be addressed?
Charles Johnson: We need to collect more aluminum, sort it better and keep more usable scrap available for American manufacturers. That means improving recycling infrastructure, investing in advanced sorting technology and taking a closer look at the millions of tons of valuable aluminum scrap leaving the US each year.

AL Circle: How should the US approach its aluminium trade policy so that measures designed to protect domestic producers do not inadvertently put downstream manufacturers at a disadvantage?

Charles Johnson: We need strong, targeted enforcement against unfair trade and non-market actors while ensuring US manufacturers have reliable access to the metal they need. That means closing loopholes, preventing circumvention and strengthening enforcement across North America.

AL Circle: Which aluminium-consuming sectors are most vulnerable if the US cannot close its supply gap quickly, and what could the consequences be for industries such as automotive, aerospace, construction and defence?

Charles Johnson: Aluminum is essential across the US economy — from automotive, aerospace and construction to packaging, electrical infrastructure and defense. Our priority is building a larger, more resilient supply base that can meet growing demand across American manufacturing.

AL Circle: If you could remove one major obstacle to strengthening the US aluminium supply chain today, what would it be, and why?

Charles Johnson: The biggest mistake would be looking for a single solution. America needs more affordable and reliable energy; more domestic production and recycling; targeted trade enforcement; and certainty to support long-term investment. That’s exactly why we’re advocating an all-of-the-above approach.