Aluminum Scrap Markets
July 16, 2026
Packaging growth leads Gränges Americas volume growth
Written by Nicholas Bell
Gränges increased sales volume in the Americas during the second quarter, although the company attributed most of the increase to market share gains rather than broad growth in regional aluminum demand.
Americas sales volume rose 7.7% year over year to 65,200 metric tons in the second quarter from 60,600 metric tons in 2025, exceeding the 5.3% increase recorded during the first half of the year.
Half-year sales volume rose to 127,500 metric tons compared with 121,100 metric tons in the first six months of 2025.
Packaging
Packaging sales in the Americas contributed the largest volume increase, rising 16.5% year over year to 18,400 metric tons in the second quarter from 15,800 metric tons.
The end market added 2,6000 metric tons, accounting for more than half of the region’s 4,600-metric ton increase, and 28% of Gränges Americas’ second-quarter volume, up from around 26% a year earlier.
Gränges attributed the packaging increase to market share gains.
Automotive
Quarterly automotive volume increased 14.1% to 8,100 metric tons from 7,100 metric tons in the prior year period.
Gränges also linked the automotive’s sales volume gains to increased market share and new business. The company noted new electric vehicle business contributed to growth, though the report did not state how much of the Americas increase came from electric vehicle applications.
Automotive sales volume in the Americas region increased by 7.1% in the first half of the year to about 15,800 metric tons from 14,000 metric tons the previous year, while total automotive sales volume at the group level rose 7.5% in January through June to 125,500 metric tons.
Automotive sales volume accounted for around 12% of regional second-quarter volume.
Climate control
Gränges renamed several end market categories at its June 2 capital markets day. The company now reports HVAC as climate control, specialty packaging as packaging and other niches as industrial.
The name changes did not alter previously reported figures but they make direct first-half comparison less clear because the Q1 report still used the former category names.
Nonetheless, climate control sales increased 4.3% year over year in the second quarter to 28,900 metric tons from 27,700 metric tons.
Although its percentage increase trailed packaging and automotive, climate control remained Gränges Americas’ largest end market by outright volume. The category accounted for about 44% of regional sales volume in the second quarter.
Gränges said underlying climate control demand returned to modest growth, distinguishing the increase from market share gains reported in packaging and automotive.
First-half sales volume only rose by around 1.5% to a total of approximately 53,900 metric tons, with the second quarter offsetting a volume decline in the first quarter.
Because Gränges only reports climate control sales in the Americas, the 15.6% sequential increase reflects the regional business. Seasonal demand for cooling systems typically makes the second quarter stronger than the first, according to the company.
Industrial
Industrial sales in the Americas declined 2% year over year to 9,800 metric tons from 10,000 metric tons. The sharper first quarter decrease, combined with a smaller 2% decline in the second quarter, brought first half sales volume down about 5% year over year to 19,300 metric tons.
Gränges attributed the reduction primarily to softer demand among building and construction customers.
Its share of regional volume fell to about 15% from roughly 17% in the year earlier period.
The decline in Americas’ industrial sales volume contrasted with companywide Gränges sales volume to the end market.
Across all regions, industrial sales remained unchanged at 50,800 metric tons because higher European shipments offset lower volume in the Americas and Asia. During the first half, industrial volume increased 1.8% to 98,600 metric tons from 96,900 metric tons.
Recycled input
Gränges sourced 86,000 metric tons of recycled aluminum across all regions during the second quarter, up 14.6% from 75,000 metric tons a year earlier.
Recycled material represented 49.2% of total sourced metal inputs, compared with 45.6% in the second quarter of 2025.
During the first half, recycled volume increased 11.6% to 163,000 metric tons from 146,000 metric tons. Its share of sourced inputs rose to 47.8% from 44.0%.
The company doesn’t report recycled volume by region, but it identified the Americas as one of the main contributors to the increase.
Gränges linked the regional change to higher casting production and expanded use of post-consumer scrap.
The company also said wider scrap spreads contributed to Americas operating results.
Financials
Gränges Americas’ net sales increased 56% year over year to 4.89 billion Swedish kronor ($507 million) in the second quarter.
Raw material and other revenue rose 78.9% to 3.47 billion kronor from 1.94 billion kronor the prior year because of higher aluminum prices. Fabrication revenue increased by 19% to 1.42 billion kronor from 1.19 kronor.
During the first half, Americas total net sales increased 40% to 9 billion kronor. Year-over-year fabrication revenue rose 9% during the period to 2.7 billion kronor, while raw material and other revenue a sharper 59.4% to 6.3 billion kronor.
