Novelis aluminium supply recovery clears way for higher Ford F-150 production

Novelis’ recovery of its aluminium operations in Oswego, New York, has helped restore supply for Ford’s F-150 pickup production, with the automaker now sourcing aluminium from the plant again as production ramps up.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said the automaker is “fully recovered” from the supplier disruption and has been building F-150 pickups with aluminium sourced from the Novelis Oswego plant for around four weeks.

The development marks a significant step in the recovery of the aluminium supply chain supporting Ford’s F-Series trucks. Novelis is a major aluminium supplier for the F-150 and Super Duty, with the metal used extensively in the vehicles’ construction.

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The hot mill returned to operation in June after multiple fires at the facility disrupted production for several months. During the disruption, Ford sourced aluminium from markets outside the US, increasing costs because of tariffs. The automaker had previously estimated that the supply disruption could cost up to USD 2 billion.

With domestic aluminium supply from Oswego now restored, Ford expects F-150 production to reach its highest level of the year in October. The automaker’s F-Series inventory remains below targeted levels, but production is no longer being affected by the aluminium supply disruption.

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The improved supply position also supports production of the updated 2027 Ford F-150. Ford Blue senior director of truck consumer marketing Todd Eckert said, "The Novelis recovery is running on schedule." The company did not expect further delays or issues related to the aluminium supply situation.

The recovery highlights the importance of reliable domestic aluminium supply for large-scale vehicle manufacturing, particularly as aluminium continues to play a key role in lightweight vehicle construction.