Building & Construction
January 13, 2026
The question of aluminum and substitution
Written by Greg Wittbecker
The price action in aluminum, copper and steel has stirred new speculation about substitution impacting aluminum.
This often happens when there’s a blowout in prices. But it’s perhaps more intense because we are in such rarified air for prices of aluminum and copper. Steel prices are also pushing higher but not to the extent of the two nonferrous heavyweights.
Decisions to swap materials are not made in the spur of the moment. Significant engineering changes have to be made, tooling has to be redesigned. With current lead times for heavy industrial equipment, substitution could take 1-2 years to execute. Substitution, whether good or bad for aluminum, is not happening quickly.
