Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
The US aluminium used beverage can (UBC) scrap price benchmark tracked by Argus recorded a mixed performance over the third quarter of 2026, declining in July before rising in August and September. The monthly average increased from USD 2,322.89 per tonne in July to USD 2,491.22 per tonne in August and USD 2,602.51 per tonne in September, indicating a sustained recovery in the benchmark over the three months. July: Prices decline despite a high opening The benchmark began July at USD 2,464.98 per tonne on July 1, before falling sharply to USD 2,270.76 per tonne on July 3. The price remained at that level on July 2 and July 6, the lowest recorded price for the month. It subsequently recovered gradually, reaching USD 2,319.86 per tonne on July 10 and USD 2,328.63 per tonne on July 22....
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The global aluminium market is currently facing a tricky landscape filled with price fluctuations, changing trade patterns and an increasing focus on sustainability. From the rising scrap prices in China to India's growing influence in imports, along with policy changes in Europe and the energy hurdles in Australia, these regional factors are significantly impacting supply chains, costs and investment strategies throughout the aluminium industry. Weekly Recap: Recycled AL & Sustainability by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Aluminium scrap price on the rise, but what's fueling it? Aluminium scrap prices have recently gone up due to tight supply, and a direct reflection could be seen in the regional differences. In key areas like Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong and Henan, prices are going up by RMB 50 to 100...
Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has made a move to enhance its aluminium recycling capabilities. It has commissioned a new, state-of-the-art shredding and sorting system from WENDT CORPORATION. The system will be installed at its Guthrie, Kentucky, recycling facility. Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/ Also read: Toyota to shut down one of its two EV production plants in US amidst rising tariffs The high-capacity system is a cornerstone of the Guthrie plant, designed to process a wide variety of aluminium scrap with exceptional efficiency and purity, directly supporting Novelis’ goal of increasing the recycled content in its high-value products. An upgrade for improved efficiency The turnkey system, engineered and installed by WENDT, features the...
Germany-based TOMRA Recycling appoints Lars Enge as the new Executive Vice President (EVP), replacing Katrin Fricke. Lars joined TOMRA in March 2022 as Executive Vice President of Group Strategy. Over the past three years, he has been an integral member of the leadership team, driving key strategic initiatives. He spearheaded the creation of TOMRA Horizon, a portfolio of new ventures that includes TOMRA Feedstock and Reuse, and successfully oversaw the acquisition of c-trace GmbH. "TOMRA's recycling division has undergone an incredible journey since the acquisition of Titech in 2004, and the underlying drivers to increase recycling rates across the globe continue to represent substantial growth potential for the sorting arm of our business. I look forward to transforming that potential...
According to an analysis by Every Can Counts based on RetuRo data, Romania has made impressive strides in recycling aluminium cans . In July, the return rate hit 78 per cent and the year-to-date recycling rate has consistently stayed above 70 per cent, which is more than double the 35 per cent rate that was reported in official EU statistics just two years ago. The region is leading the way in can returns include București, Timiș, Constanța, Cluj and Ilfov. Romania is making impressive strides in aluminium can recycling, thanks to the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (SGR), increased investment from the private sector in collection and recycling facilities and a growing consumer appetite for sustainable practices. On top of these structural shifts, initiatives like Every Can...
In America’s ongoing battle with climate change and mounting waste, the recycling line is becoming the stage for an unexpected revolution. Despite decades of effort to sort plastics, papers, and metals, the country’s recycling system remains deeply inefficient. Each year, about USD 6.5 billion worth of recyclable materials is lost to landfills, as a result of outdated processes, contamination, and an overstretched workforce. Image for representational purpose The solution may not be more people on the sorting line but a new kind of worker: robots powered by artificial intelligence. With high-speed cameras, sensors, and nimble robotic arms, these machines are beginning to transform how recyclables are recovered, cleaned, and put back into circulation. Why the system is under strain? Inside...
Global aluminium scrap trade is undergoing a major reshuffle, with shifting demand patterns, tariff pressures, and regional recycling dynamics driving sharp changes in import rankings . Latest UN Comtrade data for the first half of 2025 shows India rising to the top as the largest importer, while China’s share has fallen dramatically. Image used for representational purpose The US has surged into second place on the back of tariff-driven demand, Germany has held steady despite industry headwinds, and Thailand has entered the top five, displacing South Korea. India leads the market India imported aluminium scrap worth USD 1,961 million in the first six months of 2025. That compares with USD 1,589 million during the same period in 2024. The increase of more than 23 per cent lifted India’s...
Precision engineering company Drurys Engineering, part of the manufacturing and engineering business Amcouri Group, has taken a decisive step towards reducing waste and boosting recycling revenue. At its Hitchin base, the company has installed a new centralised swarf processing system from J&S Engineering. The machine is built around the iSwarf50 briquetting machine supplied by German manufacturer Hocker Polytechnik. Image source: https://jandsengineering.com/ Metal swarf Metal swarf has long been a costly burden for many manufacturers. Storage skips eat up space, fluids are lost, and recycling returns fall short of potential. Drurys faced all these issues until the new system was commissioned. With the installation, the company has reduced waste but also unlocked new efficiencies,...
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced on Monday that the deadline for comments on the proposed aluminium recycling plant in Benson has been extended. Originally set to end on August 21, the new deadline is now September 16, following requests from community members for more time to review the draft permit materials in greater detail. This plant, which is being developed by Aluminium Dynamics, Inc., a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, will be a significant recycling operation capable of processing up to 300,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap annually. Also Read: Comment period ends for Benson aluminium recycling project The 174,000-square-foot facility will be situated on a 200-acre site and is designed to produce recycled aluminium ingots for downstream users across...
Aditya Birla Group's subsidiary has shaken hands with automotive circular economy firm The Future is Neutral, an entity of the Renault Group and SUEZ that provides comprehensive circular economy solutions for the automotive industry, covering every stage of a vehicle's life, to drive innovative, sustainable solutions for end-of-life vehicles. The collaboration aims to transform the way decommissioned cars are managed, turning environmental challenges into new business opportunities. Sustainability is front and centre for the Aditya Birla Group; it's not just a box to tick for them. Novelis, its flagship in the metals sector, is taking real action, aiming for at least 95 per cent recycling in its automotive aluminium operations, speaking volumes about its commitment. By joining forces with...
The Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) has fined a factory in Sungai Kapar Indah, Malaysia, a total of RM3,000 (USD 630) for generating smoke and dust pollution. The facility is known for processing aluminium scrap into ingots. Following an inspection by the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) on Tuesday (Sept 2), a factory that sorts, cleans, and shreds scrap aluminium before melting it into ingots was found to have breached multiple by-laws. On Wednesday (Sept 3), MBDK issued three compounds against the operator. MBDK Corporate Communications Department director Norfiza Mahfiz confirmed the action following ongoing public grievances. According to MBDK Corporate Communications Department director Norfiza Mahfiz, the Health Department fined the factory under By-Laws 17 (MBDK) 2007 for failing to...
Whether it's in skyscrapers or innovative electronics, metals are the foundation of modern industry. Aluminium is noted for its relatively low weight and its significant energy inputs in production. Recycling aluminium saves considerable energy when compared with primary aluminium, but the automotive industry is facing a new challenge. With the transition towards electric vehicles accelerating, existing practices for recycling end-of-life car scrap may no longer be sufficient. Historically, automobile recycling has been a reliable source of aluminium , with the major portion of it going back into engine blocks in newer combustion vehicles. However, with the end of engines, it raises the question of what will happen with all of the scrap? If there aren't avenues for car manufacturers to...
The aluminium industry’s sustainability journey in August 2025 has been exciting as ever. From the bustling can recycling networks of Brazil to futuristic waste conversion experiments on the Moon, and from India’s pandal aesthetics to Europe’s policy battles, the past month have shown how recycling and energy transitions are shaping the sector’s long-term narrative. Image for representational purposes only Brazil: still the world’s recycling poster child Brazil has long worn the crown as the world’s aluminium can recycling champion. And even though the country saw a slight dip (2.7 per cent down in 2024), its recovery rate still stayed comfortably above 95 per cent. That’s fifteen years of near-perfect performance, showing how deeply recycling is embedded in Brazilian culture. For most...
Tariff or no tariffs - the United States’ renewed trade stance aluminium imports is affecting many countries and their domestic industries for sure. If the countries facing the staggering 50 per cent tariff from the US administration are suffering from poor export orders, sluggish economy, and job loss, the same countries are also suffering from the same for aluminium scrap being exempted from tariffs. How? The exemption on aluminium scrap is bleeding the countries off their resources as most of them are diverting to the US. Europe, for example, is suffering from a similar situation, leaving local recycling plants fight for survival. Firstly, the scrap leakage from the EU is creating a void in the domestic market, wherein it is an important source of raw material for producing low-carbon...
Crack open a can, crush it, and change the world. That’s the spirit behind the Crush It Crusade (CIC), a nationwide push turning aluminium recycling into a powerhouse for community transformation. Crush It Crusade (CIC) In Longmont (Colorado), the nonprofit Can’d Aid has teamed up with Westminster’s Ball Foundation, the giving arm of Ball Corp., to open the gates for a new wave of recycling heroes. Their joint initiative, the Crush It Crusade (CIC), is more than a grant program - it’s a movement designed to spark community-led recycling revolutions powered by aluminium. Over the past 11 years, this dynamic duo has already fuelled change across 35 states, investing in more than 120 local organisations, municipalities, parks, and festivals. What was started as a small initiative in 2014 has...
As the recycling industry embraces digital tools to improve efficiency and transparency, Arcadia, California-based Doctor Scrap is seeing its metals identification and trading app gain strong traction worldwide. The platform has not only built a steady user base in North America but is also recording rapid adoption in international markets, particularly in the United States, the Middle East, and across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Image source: https://hzcdn.doctorscrap.com/develop-ai/ The app is described by the company as “a highly effective technological app that aims to assist businesses in the recycling industry”. It functions as both a price estimation tool and a global trading platform, enabling recyclers to match buyers and sellers more efficiently in...
The public comment period for a proposed air quality permit with Australian manufacturing firm Aluminium Dynamics, Inc., for its planned aluminium processing plant in Benson, Arizona, has come to an end. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had been accepting comments and questions about the proposed 174,000-square-foot facility on a 200-acre site. This facility is intended to operate 24 hours a day once approved, effective since July 16, 2025. Comments were accepted until midnight on August 21, 2025, via ADEQ's online comment portal or by e-mail. Project scope and operations As a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Aluminium Dynamics proposed a major recycling operation that would eventually process up to 300,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap a year. Once operational, the plant...
What if the cars of yesterday could power the cars of tomorrow? As the global race for raw materials accelerates and sustainability becomes the defining measure of progress, the automotive industry is rethinking how cars are built and unbuilt. Leading this reinvention, Mercedes-Benz and TSR Group are turning end-of-life vehicles into a treasure chest of resources, where aluminium, steel, copper, plastics, and glass will be recovered, refined, and used into the vehicles of the future. At the heart of this effort lies an ambitious urban mining pilot project of Mercedes-Benz and TSR Group GmbH & Co. KG, a partnership that was announced in 2024 with a strong focus on building a sustainable circular economy for end-of-life vehicles. “Our vision of sustainable mobility requires us to...
The US is suffering the consequences of President Trump doubling tariffs on the import of aluminium to 50 per cent, such as the increased costs and supply chain disruptions. But it is the demand which has not yet faced any hit. However, the nation is not really short of aluminium, according to industry professionals. More than USD 1 billion worth of aluminium from beverage cans, motor vehicles, electronics, and building materials is dumped in landfills annually. It is a lost opportunity when import costs are surging steeply. Recycling aluminium uses only a small fraction of energy and could offset the tariffs if recycling facilities were enlarged. Companies that are struggling with the tariffs The Trump administration increased tariffs on aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent....
