US Aluminum Scrap Imports Rise 36.8% to 580,000 Tonnes in First Half

According to reports on October 5, the US aluminum industry is increasingly reliant on aluminum scrap; the Aluminum Association notes that 85% of aluminum produced in the US comes from secondary sources. Against this backdrop, US aluminum scrap imports have continued to grow year-on-year. In the first half of 2026, the US imported 580,000 metric tonnes of aluminum scrap valued at $2.07 billion. This represents a 36.79% increase compared to the 424,000 metric tonnes imported in the first half of 2025 (and follows a figure of 321,000 metric tonnes in the first half of 2024). Canada accounted for 63.62% of US aluminum scrap imports, while Mexico accounted for 22.93%. The growth in US aluminum scrap imports reflects the steadily rising domestic demand for recycled aluminum feedstock and the increasingly important role of scrap trade within the North American aluminum supply chain.