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 push for low-carbon or “green” aluminium is intensifying competition for available scrap. According to global market trends research, regional economies are ramping up remelting capacities and prioritising the retention of domestically generated scrap to meet internal demand. Source: TradeIndia China remains the world’s largest consumer of recycled aluminium , with usage reaching approximately 12.01 million tonnes in 2023. This figure is projected to rise and cross fourteen million tonnes by 2026 (f). However, it is anticipated to cross nineteen million tonnes by 2030 (f), followed by Western Europe, the rest of Asia (excluding China), and North America. In 2020, amongst the various applications of recycled aluminium, canstock was the only one to witness growth. Demand from...
In 2024, Constellium, a global leader in aluminium product development, manufacturing and recycling of aluminium products, joined hands with PyroGenesis, a world leader in advanced plasma process technologies, to procure state-of-the-art plasma torch technology designed to serve as efficient heating sources for aluminium remelting furnaces. As of August 11, 2025, the companies have successfully finalised the acquisition of the technology. Following the purchase, the advanced plasma torch technology will be incorporated into a demonstrator furnace at a Constellium-owned casthouse, further to explore opportunities for sustainable high-temperature industrial heating solutions. Concerning this exchange, P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis, stated, "Streamlining energy use by...
Baldwin County, Alabama, has taken a bold step toward a cleaner, greener future with the opening of the state’s first Centre for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Fairhope. Operated by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA), this staffed, one-stop facility makes it easier than ever for residents to responsibly dispose of items that can’t go in curbside bins while shining a spotlight on the environmental power of aluminium recycling. Aluminium, one of the world’s most recyclable materials, can be reused indefinitely without losing quality. Recycling it uses 95 per cent less energy than producing new aluminium from raw ore and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. By collecting aluminium cans at the CHaRM, Baldwin County is helping keep valuable resources in circulation,...
Have you ever imagined what happened to the used coffee pods after that morning pick-me-up? For over 3.5 million of them, a second life was given, thanks to a powerful local partnership driving this national change. The re3 Partnership uniting Bracknell Forest, Reading, and Wokingham Borough Councils in collaboration with FCC Environment is proudly celebrating the second anniversary of its innovative coffee pod recycling service, launched with the Podback scheme. Since its inception in July 2023, the initiative has recycled a remarkable 54.4 tonnes of coffee pods (both aluminium and plastic) through re3’s recycling centres. Aluminium and plastic coffee pods are carefully separated and recycled to ensure maximum recovery of valuable materials. Once collected, the aluminium and plastic...
Despite a recent breakthrough in the EU-US tariff standoff, Europe’s aluminium recycling industry is sounding the alarm over a worsening crisis: the continued surge in aluminium scrap exports from the continent. While the deal marked a diplomatic easing of trade tensions, it left a critical issue unresolved, a widening market distortion that risks undermining Europe’s access to essential raw materials. The problem lies the current tariff structure. Under the revised agreement, aluminium products exported from the EU to the US still face steep tariffs of 50 per cent, whereas aluminium scrap is subject to a far lower tariff of 15 per cent. This disparity, industry leaders argue, creates a strong incentive to export scrap instead of higher-value products draining Europe’s recycling ecosystem...
Who says aluminium is used only for machinery and factories? Now it’s also finding its way to furniture- literally! Norwegian brand Vestre is making it possible by turning recycled aluminium into sustainable and eco-friendly furniture. Vestre, a Norway-based furniture maker, would be using the recycled aluminium material from Hydro Circal aluminium produced in Michigan to manufacture its furniture in the market of North America. In the European market, Vestre has already produced KINN model chairs and tables using the recycled aluminium from Hydro Circal. Now, Vestre intends to use the recycled aluminium from Hydro’s facility in Cassopolis, Michigan, to manufacture its KINN products. The main motive of Vestre is to manufacture products “closer to the markets it serves, reducing emissions...
Scrap Management Industries (SMI), a ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycler firm located in Kansas City, USA, has expanded its footprint in the Midwest. It has acquired two highly operational recycling facilities, both in Kansas - the 12th & Haskell Recycle Centre in Lawrence and the East Wilson Recycle in Ottawa. These recent acquisitions are SMI's eighth and ninth locations and fit well with the company's overall strategic direction towards viable, scalable recycling solutions to promote more sustainable futures. Enhancing regional efficiency while advancing the circular economy SMI President and CEO Jerrit Burgess said, “This acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to providing sustainable, efficient and responsible recycling solutions.” The...
European leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, Speira, has appointed Johannes Steurer as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective from July 31, 2025. Steurer has formally become responsible for the company's finance, legal and IT teams this week, bringing considerable high-level experience from within the aluminium industry. Steurer, who is 41, has an impressive track record in the industry, most notably with Swiss-headquartered flexible packaging group Aluflexpack AG. He worked with the company as its CFO from 2012 before being made CEO in 2022. Track record of excellence During his time with Aluflexpack, Steurer played a key role in guiding the company's brand direction and progressing its value creation, internationalisation, and sustainability agenda. He is also responsible for...
Canadian aluminium smelters are sharply reducing primary metal exports to the US following an escalation in tariffs under the Trump administration. Beginning in March 2025, the US reinstated a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminium, which was then unexpectedly doubled to 50 per cent in June, causing significant disruption to established trade flows and leaving Canadian exporters little time to adjust. Major producers such as Alcoa Corp have led this shift by diverting more than 100,000 metric tons of Canadian aluminium away from US buyers to alternative global markets, mainly in Europe. This pivot has been facilitated by the fact that approximately 30 per cent of Alcoa's Canadian production is not bound by annual contracts, allowing flexible redirection to more favourable markets....
In a notable development within the recycled aluminium sector, UK-based start-up Paragon Resources has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy technologies. The collaboration aims to commercialise an innovative hydrogen production process that leverages recycled aluminium reacting with water in the presence of a catalyst, highlighting the strategic integration of advanced technology in sustainable aluminium applications. Image source: siemens.co.uk Under the terms of the MoU, both organisations will collaborate to deploy and scale up a hydrogen production technology that operates without the use of fossil fuels, electrolysis or electricity. The process generates hydrogen gas and aluminium hydroxide, presenting a highly viable...
Ireland's ambitious Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has achieved a notable environmental milestone by collecting over 1.6 billion plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans since being implemented nationwide in February 2024. The DRS has transformed Ireland's container recycling rate from 49 per cent to an impressive 91 per cent, ranking it among the fastest transformations of any European country. A behavioural shift powered by incentives The DRS implemented by Ireland in February this year is a seemingly simple model with a profound impact. Under the system, consumers pay a 15 to 25 cent (USD 0.22 to USD 0.37), refundable deposit on drinks sold in a single-use container with the Re-turn logo. When they return their undamaged containers back to somewhere over 2000 return points (which...
Hydro Aluminium has placed an order for a batch homogenisation plant to enhance operations at its recycling facility in Spain, marking another strategic advancement in the global aluminium recycling sector. The plant will be supplied by Hertwich Engineering, a company known for its expertise in energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies. Image source: hertwich.com The scope of supply includes three batch homogenisation furnaces, two integrated cooling chambers, a billet saw, an ultrasonic testing station and a packing station. The addition of these homogenisation furnaces, supported by an optional step cooling system, will enable Hydro to manage frequent temperature fluctuations within its recycling operations efficiently. Gerold Keune, managing director of Hertwich,...
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to do right by the planet, but doing it correctly takes more than tossing old metal into the bin and calling it a day. While most of us know we should recycle, the how of it often gets murky. Image credit: www.justdial.com Rinsing out aluminium cans, cleaning up old cookware and removing non‑metal parts from small appliances is the tip. And if you're still crushing your cans flat before tossing them? Don’t. Experts say that this can mess with sorting machines that rely on shape to ID and direct materials to the right place. The bottom line is that steel and aluminium can be recycled endlessly without degrading, so it’s worth doing right. Why shaping matters & recycling rates you should know Global aluminium recycling efficiency remains at 76 per cent,...
Pop in the capsule, press a button, and your coffee's ready, a quick, clean, and convenient process. But behind that ease lies an environmental challenge. In Austria, even with a dedicated collection system for used coffee capsules, only about 30 per cent make it to recycling. Because a high amount of leftover coffee grounds is compared to the aluminium packaging, this complicates the melting process in smelters and makes recycling both technically and economically difficult. To tackle this, a team at the Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy at Montanuniversität Leoben (Technical University of Leoben), in collaboration with industry partners, is working on an innovative treatment process. Their goal is to recover aluminium from used capsules and turn it into a new material, helping close the...
Brussels has stopped watching from the sidelines. As the global metals trade grows more asymmetric and carbon commitments face real-world constraints, the European Commission’s decision to implement surveillance on scrap metal imports and exports has moved far beyond being a regulatory formality to a high-stakes chess move in an escalating global scrap tussle. Image for referential purposes only On July 23, 2025, the European Commission launched an official customs surveillance mechanism to monitor all EU-bound and outbound flows of steel, aluminium, and copper scrap. Though presented as a data-gathering initiative under the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP), this policy shift is anything but passive. It is a direct response to growing export leakages, tightening scrap availability...
As aluminium producers and auto component manufacturers grapple with the economics of in-house scrap recycling, the weakest link in many casting operations continues to be chip drying. Thermal dryers remain the default, despite well-known drawbacks such as high operating costs, heavy emissions, and increasing regulatory scrutiny. A recent installation by Retech Systems, part of SECO/WARWICK Group, offers a technical counterpoint. More importantly, a bottom-line recalibration. Image source: https://www.retechsystemsllc.com/ The shift revolves around a patented chip dryer system known as Thermofuge, which is being deployed inside the casting house of one of the company’s auto parts manufacturing sites. The system is not new to the market, wherein 18 units are already operational globally....
Auckland’s New World Birkenhead is leading the charge in smart recycling with the launch of New Zealand’s first supermarket-based Reverse Vending Machine (RVM). This exciting new trial invites shoppers to recycle their single-use drink containers like aluminium cans, plastic, and glass bottles while raising money for local schools and charities at the same time. The initiative is powered by TOMRA, the global leader in reverse vending and return system technology. Together, they’re aiming to show just how effective and easy modern recycling can be. Here’s how it works - remove the cap, pop your empty container into the machine, and let the built-in sensors take care of the rest, automatically identifying and sorting materials for high-quality recovery. Already a hit across Europe, RVMs are...
When the US slapped a steep 50 per cent tariff on imported aluminium earlier this year, it was pitched as a bold step to revive the country’s flagging smelters and bring metal production back home. But on the ground, something quite different is happening: scrapyards, not smelters are thriving. Across the country, aluminium recyclers are experiencing a surge in demand as manufacturers look for ways to cut costs amid spiking metal prices. With tariffs driving up the price of imported primary aluminium, many downstream industries are shifting toward recycled aluminium, which is cheaper, faster to process, and conveniently free from trade restrictions. With import prices soaring, especially in the US Midwest, manufacturers are facing higher input costs. The Platts Midwest aluminium premium...
