ALFED launches report on reindustrialising UK aluminium
The Aluminium Federation (ALFED)’s white paper outlines how the UK can strengthen its existing aluminium industry, attract investment, and retain more industrial value.
The ‘Reindustrialising UK Aluminium’ report makes a clear case for recognising aluminium as a foundational material for Britain’s industrial future.
It also sets out the practical actions needed to help UK businesses invest, compete, and grow.
At the heart of the report is a simple message: we do not need to build an aluminium industry from scratch, but we do need to create the conditions for the industry we have to thrive.
Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of ALFED, said: “UK aluminium has an enormous amount to offer Britain’s industrial future. We already have the businesses, expertise, and skills that underpin so many strategically important sectors.
“Our focus now must be on creating the right conditions for that capability to grow. That means competitive energy, joined-up Government policy, and a clearer understanding of where investment can strengthen the UK value chain.
“This report is about moving beyond recognition and towards practical action. We want to work with our members and Government to make more of the aluminium industry Britain already has.”
The report brings together updated economic evidence, analysis of the UK’s industrial capabilities, and research undertaken in collaboration with Cranfield University, based in England, UK.
ALFED’s refreshed economic model estimates that the UK aluminium industry directly contributes approximately £3.78 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supports 54,200 full-time-equivalent jobs.
Including UK supply-chain effects, the estimated contribution increases to £5.97 billion in GVA and 81,900 jobs.
From recognition to action
The report also examines how decades of industrial contraction, high energy costs, gaps in processing capability, and complex trade and regulatory conditions have affected the UK’s ability to capture more value from aluminium.
It argues that reindustrialisation must go beyond increasing recycling volumes or announcing new investment ambitions.
Instead, ALFED is calling for co-ordinated action across five priorities:
Competitive industrial energy: address the costs and infrastructure barriers affecting investment across the aluminium value chain.
Higher-value circularity: improve material-flow intelligence, sorting, alloy management, recycling and remelting capabilities.
Connected manufacturing capability: identify opportunities to strengthen commercially viable UK processing and manufacturing.
Joined-up trade and carbon policy: ensure decisions on tariffs, CBAM, carbon pricing, and market access reflect their impacts across the industry.
Strategic resilience and procurement: connect aluminium capability to the UK’s future industrial, infrastructure, and defence requirements.
What happens next?
Through the ‘Make More of UK Aluminium’ campaign, ALFED will use the report to support engagement with the UK Government, parliamentarians, industry partners, and regional stakeholders.
The federation is a proposing a practical Government–industry delivery partnership, supported by better evidence on UK capabilities, a confidential pipeline of potential investment opportunities, and measurable progress against agreed priorities.
It also encourages its members to help bring the report to life through real examples of investment, innovation, skills development, manufacturing capability, and the challenges businesses face.
