US aluminum scrap imports jump to 580kt in H1 2026; Canada leads with 64% share

The US aluminum industry is becoming increasingly dependent on aluminum scrap, with the Aluminum Association noting that 85% of aluminum produced in the US comes from secondary sources. Against this backdrop, US imports of aluminum scrap have continued to rise year-on-year. During January-June, or the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported 580,000 metric tons of aluminum scrap, valued at $2.07 billion.

The US-Canada trade relations are a recurring headline with tariff and duty updates from both sides. Interestingly, when it comes to aluminum scrap trade, Canada accounts for a staggering 63.62% share as a supplier to the US.

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The H1 growth chart: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024

Comparing the import figures of H1 2026, they point to a clear Y-o-Y growth: 

H1 2026 – 580,000 metric tons, up 36.79% Y-o-Y

H1 2025 – 424,000 metric tons, up 36.79% Y-o-Y

H1 2024 – 321000 metric tons, up 32.09% Y-o-Y

The quarterly snapshot

The quarterly trend also points to accelerating import activity. US aluminum scrap imports reached 314,000 metric tons in Q2 2026, up 18.05% Q-o-Q from 266,000 metric tons in Q1 2026.

A year earlier, Q2 2025 imports stood at 222,000 metric tons, representing a 9.9% Q-o-Q increase from 202,000 metric tons in Q1.

The same trend was visible in 2024. Q2 aluminum scrap imports reached 167,000 metric tons, up 8.44% Q-o-Q from 154,000 metric tons in Q1.

The cumulative six-month figures therefore underline a sustained upward trend in US aluminum scrap imports, with volumes continuing to expand despite the evolving North American trade landscape.

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Top exporters to the US

The top 5 exporting countries that have supplied aluminum scrap to the US in H1 2026 are as follows:

• Canada – shipped 369,000 metric tons (63.62%)
• Mexico – shipped 133,000 metric tons (22.93%)
• Republic of Korea – shipped 13,600 metric tons (2.35%)
• Colombia – shipped 10,800 metric tons (1.86%)
• The United Kingdom – shipped 8,200 metric tons (1.41%)

Canada and Mexico retain their positions as the top exporters to the US over the three-year course.

Mexico’s exports to the US rose from 95,000 metric tons in H1 2024 to 139,000 metric tons in H1 2025, before easing to 133,000 metric tons in H1 2026. Meanwhile, Canada’s H1 export figures have recorded a consistent Y-o-Y growth, with shipments rising from 197,000 metric tons in 2024 to 218 metric tons in 2025 to 369,000 metric tons in 2026.

The future of US-Canada aluminum scrap trade

Canada’s dominant position, supplying nearly two-thirds of US aluminum scrap imports in H1 2026, highlights the growing importance of North American recycling flows to US aluminum security. With secondary aluminum accounting for around 85% of domestic aluminum production, access to reliable scrap is becoming increasingly important alongside primary-metal supplies.

The US represents a large, nearby and technically sophisticated market for Canada’s aluminum scrap. This creates a mutually significant trade relationship at a time when both countries are reassessing the structure of their wider aluminum supply chains.

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Recent US-Canada tariff developments have introduced additional uncertainty into the broader aluminum relationship. However, the apparent exclusion of aluminum scrap from standard Section 232 treatment gives scrap flows a relative advantage compared with unwrought aluminum and fabricated products.

As trade tensions continue to reshape North American aluminum flows, stable Canada-US scrap trade could therefore assume greater strategic importance. The direction of primary aluminum and finished-product trade may remain contested, but the need for dependable aluminum scrap is becoming more and more difficult to overlook.