The Aluminum Association has released a white paper outlining the need for government action to keep more aluminium scrap within the US.

The paper, titled “Scrap the Exports, Save U.S. Supply: Treating Aluminum Scrap as a Strategic Asset” highlights how the US currently runs a ~1.3mt trade deficit in aluminium scrap.

Charles Johnson, CEO of the Aluminum Association, said: “Scrap aluminium is a vital feedstock for American manufacturers, especially at a time when US aluminium firms are investing and need reliable and affordable access to metal like never before,

“Smart, targeted export controls that keep our highest-quality scrap, like used beverage containers, within our borders will help to build a stronger US aluminium industry and support American manufacturing in general.

“Otherwise, we’re giving up our competitive edge and let non-market economies like China dominate yet another aluminum market.”

The specific measures the association is calling for are:

  1. An immediate ban on used beverage container (UBC) exports outside of North America where the free flow of UBCs is essential to regional industry.
  2. Updated US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USHTS) codes and other tracking mechanisms to better monitor aluminium scrap flows and enforce restrictions.
  3. Investment in new technology to improve scrap collection and sortation.
  4. Potential expansion of export controls to other types of mill-ready scrap over time as tracking and infrastructure improves.

The paper also further lists some of the key arguments for these measures, including aluminium scrap being a strategic asset, the material’s importance to US defence systems, and the threat of China’s rapidly expanding recycling capacity.

It is hoped these measures can help keep high-quality scrap in the US. Johnson added: “By focusing only on the scrap we can use and value most, we make sure that American recyclers win and that lower-grade scrap still finds a market abroad until we’re ready to process more of it here.”

For more information, visit: www.aluminum.org/ScrapTheExports