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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CIAL said Italy’s aluminium packaging recycling rate reached 69.5 per cent in 2025, while aluminium beverage cans achieved a significantly higher recycling rate of 92.8 per cent. According to the consortium, the country’s overall aluminium packaging recovery rate stood at 72.9 per cent during the year. Although the recovery figure was slightly lower than the adjusted 2024 level, CIAL said this was mainly due to a 7 per cent increase in the volume of aluminium packaging placed on the market rather than weaker recycling performance. The organisation added that changes in calculation methods under updated European regulations also affected the figures, including adjustments related to aluminium content in composite packaging materials. Around 65,000 tonnes of aluminium were reportedly sent...
Aluminium Deutschland said Germany’s aluminium sector remains under pressure after production declined further during the first quarter of 2026, with most companies not expecting conditions to improve by the end of the year. According to the association, Germany produced 684,564 tonnes of recycled aluminium during the first quarter, down around 3 per cent compared with the same period last year. The industry continues to face major raw material challenges, with 85 per cent of surveyed companies reporting shortages of aluminium scrap. Within the recycled aluminium segment, refiners increased production by 2 per cent to 128,639 tonnes, while remelters recorded a 4 per cent decline to 555,925 tonnes, making them the main contributor to the sector’s overall weakness. Demand from key customer...
The aluminium packaging industry has wrapped up the 2025–2026 Million Cans Recycling Contest, an initiative spearheaded by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) to strengthen supplies of used beverage cans (UBCs) while encouraging practical recycling education in schools and communities. During this latest edition of the programme, pupils from 56 primary schools spread across 14 US states collected and recycled more than 3 million aluminium drinks cans. Over the past three years, the competition has now recovered upwards of 6.5 million cans in total. That volume represents roughly 188,000 pounds of aluminium diverted away from landfill sites, approximately the same weight as the airframe of a commercial Boeing 737. Expansion through a new non-profit model A major development for the...
Aluminium Deutschland said Germany’s aluminium sector remains under pressure after production declined further during the first quarter of 2026, with most companies not expecting conditions to improve by the end of the year. According to the association, Germany produced 684,564 tonnes of recycled aluminium during the first quarter, down around 3 per cent compared with the same period last year. The industry continues to face major raw material challenges, with 85 per cent of surveyed companies reporting shortages of aluminium scrap. Within the recycled aluminium segment, refiners increased production by 2 per cent to 128,639 tonnes, while remelters recorded a 4 per cent decline to 555,925 tonnes, making them the main contributor to the sector’s overall weakness. Demand from key customer...
During the 2025-26 “Million Cans Recycling Contest” held in the US, elementary school students from 14 states recycled more than 3 million aluminium beverage cans. Since the inception of the competition in 2023-24, participants have collected over 6 million aluminium cans, weighing nearly 188,000 pounds, roughly the same as the airframe of a Boeing 737. Including this year’s collection of around 3.07 million cans, the contest has delivered energy savings estimated to be sufficient for charging around 36 million smartphones. Delve deeper into the recycled aluminium and secondary aluminium market with our World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 The initiative is organised by the nonprofit Recycling Society, based in Bellingham, Washington, in collaboration with...
The aluminium industry witnessed a defining phase shaped by tightening supply chains, rising sustainability pressures, accompanied by an acceleration in recycling investments. From shifting global scrap trade patterns and low-carbon aluminium initiatives to CBAM-driven policy responses and ESG-led industrial strategies, producers and governments alike continued repositioning themselves for a market increasingly influenced by resilience, decarbonisation and circular economy ambitions. Delve deeper into the recycled aluminium and secondary aluminium market with our World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 The global aluminium market has entered 2026 under intense pressure as supply shortages, geopolitical tensions and carbon-linked trade barriers reshape the...
As global scrap trade routes keep changing, Vietnam is trying to position itself as the next big destination for aluminium and copper recycling. But while the country is offering tax benefits and financial support to attract investors, many traders and recyclers still believe the market is not fully ready. The shift comes after the US-China trade war sharply disrupted global scrap flows. When tariffs on US goods entering China climbed as high as 125 per cent in April 2025, Chinese buyers started moving aluminium and copper scrap cargoes through Southeast Asia and Japan instead. Buyers also began sourcing more material from Europe, the UK and the Middle East. Now, fresh problems are emerging. Europe may introduce export levies on aluminium scrap in 2026, Middle Eastern supply remains...
Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd. reported higher revenue and profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, supported by improved operating performance. The company’s consolidated net sales rose 10.4 per cent year-on-year to JPY 331.1 billion (USD 2.08 billion), while its operating profit increased 50.4 per cent to JPY 7.3 billion (USD 46 million). Profit attributable to owners of the parent company surged by more than four times to JPY 3.7 billion (USD 23.36 million). To gain insights into the the current aluminium extrusions market, explore our report The World of Aluminium Extrusions – Industry Forecast to 2032 The company said profitability ratios improved during the year, although the equity ratio declined to 42.9 per cent as total assets expanded to JPY 177.9 billion (USD...
European aluminium producers are facing mounting pressure as the European Union pushes forward with reforms to its Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), a move expected to increase operating costs across the region’s recycling and refining industries. While the reforms are intended to support long-term decarbonisation goals and cleaner industrial production, analysts and industry groups fear they could weaken the competitiveness of Europe’s aluminium sector at a time when producers are already dealing with high energy prices and sluggish industrial demand. The revised EU ETS structure changes the benchmark values used to determine how many free carbon allowances industrial companies receive. Aluminium recyclers and alumina refineries are especially concerned because they do not have...
Gujarat-based Baheti Recycling Industries Limited is steadily advancing towards solidifying its position in India’s secondary aluminium market by diversifying into higher-value aluminium wire rods and reaching out to the automotive supply chain. As new capacities are being developed alongside direct supplies to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to companies like Royal Enfield and Bajaj Auto Limited, the company is now transitioning from a conventional scrap recycler to a broader aluminium solutions provider. Delve deeper into the recycled aluminium and secondary aluminium market with our World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 Mainly converting imported aluminium scrap into alloy ingots and deoxidisers for industrial applications, the company...
Two scrap collectors were intercepted for depositing an aluminium ladder on the railway track between the stations of Coimbatore North and Peelamedu. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Coimbatore detained them on Monday. Explore the position of aluminium at the intersection of sustainability and strategy in Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment The ladder, which was kept on the railway track, was hit by a locomotive on May 9. The sudden impact generated a loud noise, leading the loco pilot to use emergency brakes. The incident was reported to the RPF administrators. The case was registered under several sections of the Railways Act, which thereafter led to a thorough investigation into the matter, suspecting planned sabotage. A follow-up investigation revealed that...
As announced by Alcoa Corporation, one of the world's most sustainable aluminium producers, on May 11, it will be investing USD 65 million to enhance its foundry production capabilities. This will be possible by incorporating recycled materials into the casting process at its Mosjøen smelter in Norway. With this investment, the firm aims to strengthen its position by enabling the delivery of low-carbon aluminium products, which will benefit consumer demand in the key market. This will be done by the firm, for the first time, by integrating post-consumer recycled aluminium into its offerings. In the last six years, the firm has initiated a total investment of USD 180 million for upholding sustainable and growth-focused capital at its smelter. Moreover, an additional investment of USD 65...
Hydro is showcasing a curated selection of recycled aluminium design works at ELEMENT: METAL, the latest exhibition organised by Schloss Hollenegg for Design, running from May 9 to 31, 2026 in Styria, Austria. Set within the historic interiors of Schloss Hollenegg, the exhibition explores metal not only as a functional material but also as a cultural and design medium. Curated by Alice Stori Liechtenstein, the showcase brings contemporary design practices into conversation with centuries-old applied arts, with a particular focus on aluminium’s evolving role in furniture, lighting and spatial applications. As part of the exhibition, Hydro presents works by designers Max Lamb, Philippe Malouin and Sabine Marcelis. Each project highlights distinct applications of aluminium, ranging from...
Over recent months, the community-led recycling drive in Armley, Leeds, has collected 5,000 aluminium cans , which have raised money to help Leeds City Mission (LCM) outreach and cut down on local waste. The initiative, led by volunteers, staff, and supporters, involved gathering discarded cans from streets and post-event waste. The collected material was checked, crushed, and sorted before being transported to LCM’s centre on Mistress Lane, opposite Armley Library. From there, sacks filled with aluminium cans and foil were taken to a recycling facility and exchanged for cash. LCM Development Worker Andy Dalton said the effort aligns with the organisation’s long-standing focus on reuse and recycling. “We live in a throw-away society. But as we say in Yorkshire – where there’s muck there’s...
EGA’s reset of its Guinea bauxite supply and progress at the Al Taweelah recycling facility have sparked curiosity about whether these moves are aimed at reviving the company’s resilience in the global aluminium market after a temporary shutdown of the Al Taweelah smelter following damage from Iranian attacks. . The timing of these three incidents is what has sparked such intrigue. EGA’s core smelting operations remain closed after a strike at its 1.6 million tonnes per annum Al Taweelah facility in late March, forcing the company to invoke force majeure on select contracts. Rehabilitation work is expected to begin by the end of May, with a full restart potentially taking up to a year. Meanwhile, EGA is gearing up to establish its recycling plan in Al Taweelah. “We are now reaching the...
Trade between Libya and Brazil has shifted noticeably in early 2026, with contrasting movements on each side of the exchange. Libya’s export to Brazil soared, driven by a surge in aluminium scrap shipments during the January–March period. The value of these exports rose sharply, climbing by 347.4 per cent compared with the same quarter a year earlier to reach approximately USD 1.7 million, based on figures from the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics Brazil’s exports to Libya, on the other hand, declined by 57.2 per cent, amounting to USD 94.19 million over the same timeframe. Despite this drop, Brazil continued to post a substantial trade surplus in its favour. A closer look at Brazilian exports shows a...
French cleantech company ROSI, specialised in high-value recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic panels, has secured funding of over EUR 20 million (USD 23 million) for upgrading and optimising the efficiency of its high-value photovoltaic module recycling facilities all over Europe. Established in 2017, the company recovers high-purity strategic raw materials, such as aluminium, copper, glass etc. from discarded photovoltaic modules, reinforcing its position as a key player in addressing the growing volume of solar waste. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Commenting on the project, President and co-founder of ROSI, Dr Yun Luo, noted, "Our ambition is to build a European-scale industrial platform for...
Norsk Hydro has accelerated its push into circular manufacturing by supplying low-carbon, recycled aluminium to the reECONIC project led by Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Based on the electric Mercedes-Benz eEconic platform, the initiative gathers over 30 partners to demonstrate the reuse of materials in closed loops without compromising performance or safety in commercial vehicles. It promotes circularity and sustainability in the value chain from sourcing to recycling end-of-life materials to produce low-carbon, recycled aluminium, playing a central role in the equation. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Executive Vice President of Hydro Extrusions, Paul Warton, mentioned, “The reECONIC project shows how...
