Aluminum Scrap Markets
January 7, 2026
Written by Nicholas Bell
The availability-and-flow portion of AMU’s monthly survey, which covers lead times, import competitiveness, and supply additions, showed the sharpest month-to-month contrasts in December.
Qualitative assessments of lead time direction appeared calmer than in November, even as measured, upstream lead times for primary and semi-fabricated aluminum products increased across all categories.
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.
