Small deal, sharp edge: Litho sheet finds its niche in trade pact

At first glance, the aluminum implications of the deal might seem modest. To be sure, it is headline fodder, at least partially.

But as my colleague Gabriella wrote last week, there could be real commercial potential, even in small volumes.

Aluminum footnote or hidden opportunity?

As it turns out, this agreement – probably unintentionally – opens up one such niche: lithographic sheet, a niche, high-purity, and surprisingly valuable grade of aluminum.

The UK’s slice of the US aluminum imports pie is very small. In 2024, the US imported just under 22,000 metric tons (t) of aluminum from the UK, nearly all of it in sheet and foil form. Not all of that import volume was lithographic sheet, but even volumes in the thousands are significant for a product as unique as this.

Litho sheet is typically costly and a rare grade of scrap to come by. Unlike other more specific alloys, like 6061 or 5052, it can be consumed by just about anyone or added to just about any melt mix.

The litho legacy

Lithography has been a staple in high-quality printing for centuries, but the length of that same legacy has pushed a cornerstone industry into a niche space.

In basic terms, a lithographic plate transfers an impression of an image or text onto lithographic sheet, commonly made from 1050 alloy, which receives the inked graphic.

They’re still essential for companies like Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm, who still provide a value-added service called “plate setting”.

Where the UK fits in

Up until the 2010’s at least one mill produced litho sheet – Alcoa’s Warrick mill, now operated by Kaiser Aluminum. Since acquiring the facility, Kaiser has shifted production focus to beverage can sheet.

Now, Bridgnorth Aluminum is one of the few regular suppliers of the material to US.

Other major European producers that export it to the US include Speira and Hydro, who have operational presences in the UK, but not the litho sheet manufacturing facilities.

From imports to inflows

Litho sheet’s second life might be just as valuable as its first. As scrap, it’s prized for its purity and low contamination levels and it’s known as a cutter-grade alloy – it can bolster the aluminum content of melt mixes without adding too many impurities, similar to electrical conductor wire scrap.

Greater tariff-free purchases of litho sheet today means greater generation of litho scrap tomorrow. And for UK suppliers, access to the US market without barriers to entry could meaningfully boost orders even in this small segment.