Aluminum Scrap Markets
March 26, 2026
Written by Greg Wittbecker
I had the opportunity to participate in the 77th Aluminum Extruders Council Annual Meeting held last week in Hilton Head Island, SC.
The event brings together leading extruders and their suppliers. Interest was heightened this year due to the meteoric rise in aluminum replacement costs and how the Persian Gulf region supply situation could further evolve.
US aluminum scrap imports increased faster than exports through August, while similar tonnage gains kept net exports near year earlier levels.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging the district court’s decision to uphold Oregon’s version of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws that are popping up across the country.
Rio Tinto will exclusively market billet from RevoCast’s new British Columbia plant under a long-term agreement combining primary and recycled aluminum.
Recycler forward expectations swung toward oversupply in September as inventory drawdowns eased and export demand lost August’s improving responses.
Aluminum sheet lead times rose in September even as more respondents became more comfortable with overall supply.
