An industry association is calling for measures to support aluminum recycling, including a ban on US exports of used beverage cans (UBCs), as demand for the material grows in key areas such as vehicles, aerospace and defense systems and packaging.
The US consumes 5 million to 6 million metric tons of aluminum scrap annually while exporting more than 2 million tons, the Aluminum Association stated in the “Treating Aluminum Scrap as a Strategic Asset” white paper.
“Scrap exports have increased significantly in recent years and often end up in non-market economies such as China (either directly or through third countries) before it becomes new products that unfairly compete with American-made goods,” the group said.
The association added that the United States has an aluminum scrap trade deficit of about 1.3 million metric tons, while acknowledging that the gap has narrowed recently due to trade and tariff policy.
However, in an Oct. 9 statement, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) cited a report from Mining and Materials Markets Ltd. that found there is more than four times as much aluminum available for recycling than the US consumes today, and that supply will continue to outpace demand over the next 15 years.
“This study shows that the United States has an abundant reserve of recoverable aluminum,” said ReMA President Robin Wiener. “The U.S. aluminum recycling market is built on strong economics, proven technology and an abundant resource reserve base. Aluminum is a clear American success story: a market driven economy that delivers environmental, economic and community benefits while ensuring long-term supply stability. Any talk of export restrictions or bans is totally unwarranted.”
In June, the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on aluminum shipped to the US. About two-thirds of the aluminum used annually in the US is imported from Canada, according to the Aluminum Association.
“The US aluminum industry faces a supply gap of about 4 million metric tons of raw aluminum each year and becoming self-sufficient would take many years, billions of dollars and access to an enormous amount of affordable energy,” the group said. UBC imports into the US from Mexico and Canada “are a vital feedstock for the US can sheet market especially and should be traded within North America with zero tariff or other restrictions,” the group said.
The Aluminum Association is pressing for:
- Updated tariff codes and other tracking mechanisms to better monitor aluminum scrap flow and enforce restrictions;
- Investment in new technology to improve scrap collection and sortation, including passing the bipartisan CIRCLE Act and
- Potential expansion of export controls to other types of mill-ready scrap over time as tracking and infrastructure improves.
