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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India's aluminium scrap importers are looking beyond the Middle East for supplies after several Gulf countries imposed a ban on aluminium scrap exports from June 10, disrupting shipments from one of the country's key sourcing regions. The restrictions have prompted importers to explore alternative suppliers in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia as they seek to secure raw material for India's secondary aluminium industry. Aluminium scrap is the primary feedstock for secondary aluminium production, which supplies metal to the automotive, electrical, construction, packaging, consumer durables and engineering sectors. India depends heavily on overseas supplies, with around 80 per cent of its aluminium scrap requirement met through imports. To know the aluminium...
Mercedes-Benz and Norsk Hydro have solidified their long-term partnership to accelerate the use of recycled aluminium across Europe. The initiative reinforces the automotive industry’s decarbonisation goals while reinforcing regional supply chains, thereby taking the EU a step closer to the Net Zero goals. As part of the expanded collaboration, Mercedes-Benz will become the first European automaker to use Hydro CIRCAL in serial production for its next generation of large electric vehicles (EV). The recycled aluminium contains at least 75 per cent post-consumer scrap, a significant increase from the previous minimum of 25 per cent. The material is produced from end-of-life vehicles, buildings and infrastructure through advanced recycling processes. To know the aluminium casting demand...
Aluminium is often described as one of the most recyclable industrial materials, and the UK already has much of the infrastructure needed to support a circular aluminium economy. Collection systems are well established, recycling rates are strong, and remelting capacity exists across the supply chain. According to Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), the challenge is no longer whether aluminium can be recycled, but whether the UK is keeping enough of the value created from that recycled material. One of the biggest issues is the way aluminium is still viewed. The term "scrap" often suggests waste, yet secondary aluminium has become one of the UK's most important raw materials, particularly as domestic primary aluminium production remains limited. ALFED estimates that...
US aluminium scrap recovery continued to strengthen at the start of 2026, with recycled metal production rising by double digits year on year, while primary aluminium output remained largely unchanged, according to the latest US Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Industry Survey. A total of 318,000 metric tonnes of aluminium was recovered from scrap in January 2026, up 14 per cent from the same month last year compared to 297,000 tonnes and 3 per cent higher than the revised December 2025 figure. Of the total, 179,000 metric tonnes came from new scrap and 138,000 metric tonnes from old scrap. Meanwhile, primary aluminium production totalled 58,000 tonnes during the month. Average daily output stood at 1,860 metric tonnes, unchanged from December 2025 and 1 per cent higher than January 2025....
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The carbon legislation trap: The CBAM Omnibus 2025 update has eliminated the zero-emission loophole for pre-consumer scrap. Secondary aluminium producers using primary factory off-cuts must now declare massive upstream carbon footprints, destroying their European export margins. The geopolitical squeeze: As the EU prepares to ban metal scrap exports, import-dependent nations face a catastrophic supply deficit. Indian aluminium recyclers are uniquely crippled by a 2.5 per cent Basic Customs Duty on scrap, creating an inverted duty structure that heavily favours zero-tariff ASEAN competitors. The zero-waste imperative: Environmental regulators are aggressively shutting down informal dross processors. To survive, the industry must pivot to AI-driven LIBS precision sorting...
Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the European Union in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 have reported an almost 90 per cent year-on-year surge. In Q1 2026, Japan imported a total of 35,794 tonnes of aluminium scrap, of which 3,613 tonnes or 10.09 per cent, was imported from the EU. Delve deeper into the recycled aluminium and secondary aluminium market with our World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 Comparing the Q1 volume over the years, a rising streak can be noted in Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the EU: Q1 2026 – 3,613 tonnes, rising 89 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,902 tonnes in Q1 2025 Q1 2025 – 1,902 tonnes, rising 40 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,357 tonnes in Q1 2024 Concurrently, the annual shipment volume from the EU to Japan has witnessed a sharp...
Odisha Police have arrested four members of an alleged interstate scrap theft syndicate accused of stealing around 3.6 kilometres of 11 kV aluminium conductor from an electricity distribution network in Jharsuguda district, highlighting the growing challenge of organised metal theft targeting power infrastructure. The arrests were made by Kolabira Police as part of 'Operation Netra', an ongoing drive against organised property crimes. The accused allegedly operated across state borders, targeting aluminium conductors because of their high scrap value and ease of disposal through informal recycling channels. The accused, Abdul Khyyam (46) of Telibhata, Ashraf Raza (26) of Purunabasti in Jharsuguda, Abdul Rahim (35) of Jharkhand and Ajmail Mir (48) of West Bengal, were arrested following an...
Coventry University has partnered with aluminium foundry Alucast to investigate how recycled aluminium can be processed into high-grade materials suitable for use in critical industries. The initiative is part of the Clean Futures Programme and aims to help reduce the UK's reliance on imported primary-grade aluminium alloys, which are widely used across sectors including automotive and defence. According to the university, the UK currently imports up to 1.25 million tonnes of primary-grade aluminium each year because domestic production is insufficient to meet demand. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 As part of the project, researchers from Coventry University's Institute for...
Recycled aluminium producer Aluminum Dynamics LLC will invest more than USD 200 million to build a recycled aluminium slab centre in Lowndes County, Mississippi, creating 100 new jobs. The facility, to be located in the Golden Triangle Industrial Park, will recycle aluminium-bearing materials, mainly used beverage cans, into 180,000 tonnes of aluminium slabs for the aluminium products industry. Operations are expected to begin in the first half of 2027. The Mississippi Development Authority is supporting the project through road and rail infrastructure improvements, while the facility will also qualify for tax incentives under the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority programme. Lowndes County is also providing support for the development. Aluminum Dynamics Operations Manager Devin...
It is not new to the aluminium recyclers anymore that price volatility has become a part of their business now. Factors like changing scrap prices, metal values that move between procurement and delivery, fluctuating currencies and commercial commitments often stretch across weeks or months. Therefore, the question is no longer whether volatility will occur but how much the aluminium recycling businesses are prepared when it does. Traditionally, major recycling aluminium businesses focused on improving production efficiency, expanding processing capacity and securing a reliable scrap supply. Still, one capability that separates resilient businesses from vulnerable ones: The ability to manage price risk before it erodes margins. This is where hedging is rapidly becoming a commercial...
The Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) has urged the Indian government to abolish the 2.5 per cent Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on aluminium scrap, arguing that the measure would support the country's recycling industry and strengthen the circular economy. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the association said removing the duty would reduce raw material costs for recyclers and downstream manufacturers while improving their competitiveness in global markets. MRAI noted that India remains heavily dependent on imported aluminium scrap, with 80-85 per cent of the country's requirement being met through imports. It said uninterrupted access to imported scrap is essential to sustain domestic manufacturing and support the continued growth of the recycling...
Europe remained a major supplier of aluminium scrap to the global market during the first quarter of 2026. Although discussions on retaining more scrap within the region continued, export volumes remained much higher than imports. Demand from overseas secondary aluminium producers, together with Europe's well-developed recycling industry, kept scrap moving out of the region throughout the quarter. Eurostat data (HS/CN 7602) show that the EU-27 imported 168,346 tonnes of aluminium waste and scrap from countries outside the bloc during January-March 2026. Imports remained almost unchanged during the first two months of the quarter. January imports stood at 54,817 tonnes, followed by 54,658 tonnes in February. Volumes increased slightly in March to 58,870 tonnes, making it the strongest...
As aluminium increasingly becomes a strategic raw material for decarbonisation and advanced manufacturing, the focus is no longer limited to primary metal production. From export restrictions and carbon pricing to import duties and circular economy measures, a growing wave of policy interventions is reshaping global aluminium scrap flows. These developments are influencing availability, pricing and competitiveness across aluminium supply chains. Trade scenarios When it comes to scrap leakage, Europe takes the centre stage. While in 2024 the European Union’s aluminium scrap outflow exceeded 1.2 million tonnes, in 2025 it neared 1.3 million tonnes, settling at 1.27 million tonnes. As industrial analysts warn the administration of stricter measures to safeguard quality aluminium scrap and...
Wychavon District Council has launched a new campaign in partnership with Alupro to encourage residents to recycle more aluminium foil and other aluminium packaging through its kerbside recycling scheme. The initiative, titled "Foil in Love with Recycling", follows the introduction of kerbside collection for aluminium foil and aims to improve public understanding of best recycling practices, address common misconceptions and increase aluminium collection rates across the district. As part of the campaign, residents are being advised to separate used aluminium trays and cooking foil from other waste, scrunch the foil into a ball and place it in their green recycling bins. The awareness programme includes social media campaigns, advertisements at petrol stations, on waste collection...
The UK has an ambitious aluminium scrap equation to solve. Domestic industry is forecast to require as much as 6 million tonnes of aluminium scrap for recycling by 2035 to support the government’s projected 8 million tonnes of aluminium demand across sectors. Yet much of the metal needed to support that future is already flowing in the opposite direction. The UK exports almost half the aluminium scrap it generates, while imports fill only 27 per cent of the resulting gap. The trend has continued into 2026, with scrap exports rising 9 per cent year on year to 217,611 tonnes during January–April, from 200,374 tonnes a year earlier. This is where the UK’s recycling ambition meets a difficult market reality. Scrap is becoming increasingly important at home, but overseas buyers are competing...
The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has called on the Centre to immediately notify the long-pending BIS standards for aluminium scrap, warning that a surge in imports could turn India into a dumping ground for substandard material. In representations submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Mines, AAI described aluminium as a “future-facing strategic material” with applications across power, transport, infrastructure, defence, aerospace, packaging, electronics, utensils and renewable energy. The association cautioned that unchecked entry of aluminium scrap could have wider economic consequences, affecting product quality, consumer safety, manufacturing competitiveness and the credibility of India’s aluminium value chain. AAI seeks duty protection and grade-wise HSN...
Itochu and Daikin Industries will jointly start a business to recover aluminium from used commercial air conditioners in Japan. The initiative is aimed at increasing the use of recycled materials as Japan looks to reduce its dependence on imported aluminium amid supply chain disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East. Nearly one-third of Japan's aluminium imports currently come from the region. Under the project, Itochu Metals, a subsidiary of Itochu, will collect used Daikin commercial air conditioners from office buildings and other commercial facilities. The units will be dismantled, and components such as heat exchangers and motors will be separated. Specialised scrap processors will then recover aluminium, as well as iron and copper. Commercial air conditioners are not covered...
Italian metals sorting technology specialist SGM Magnetics S.p.A. has introduced a new recovery system or sorting lineto extract commercial metals from salt slag fines, a byproduct of secondary aluminium production, addressing one of the industry's most difficult recycling streams. SGM noted, “After crushing, grinding and classification, the fine fraction can still contain recoverable metallic aluminium and other valuable metals” during secondary aluminium smelting. However, the recovery has been a difficult feat owing to the high salt content, corrosive nature, abrasive dust and the micro-particle size of the fines. According to SGM, particles measuring below 2 millimetres are especially difficult, as the metallic content is often irregularly shaped, rendering separation challenging....
