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North American Aluminum Demand Rises 3.5% as Domestic Mill Shipments Fall
North American aluminum demand increased 3.5% to 13.57 billion pounds during the first half of 2026, driven largely by imports. Despite stronger market demand, shipments from U.S. and Canadian aluminum mills declined 3.6%, highlighting the region's continuing production challenges.
By Paul Ploumis
Published: October 28, 2026
Reporting period: January–June 2026
Key Points
- Aluminum demand: ↑3.5% to 13.57 billion pounds.
- Semi-fabricated products: Demand ↑1.5% to 9.87 billion pounds.
- Domestic mill shipments: ↓3.6% year over year.
- Apparent consumption: ↑1.8% to 12.14 billion pounds.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Aluminum demand across the United States and Canada increased 3.5% year over year to an estimated 13.57 billion pounds during the first six months of 2026, according to preliminary figures released by the Aluminum Association on October 26.
The increase compared with 13.12 billion pounds during January–June 2025, reflecting stronger overall market activity.
However, the underlying figures revealed a different trend among North American producers. While total demand increased, shipments of semi-fabricated aluminum products from domestic mills declined.
Imports Drive Aluminum Demand Growth
Demand for semi-fabricated aluminum products, including sheet and other mill products, increased 1.5% to 9.87 billion pounds.
Apparent aluminum consumption, which the association calculates as demand less exports, rose 1.8% to approximately 12.14 billion pounds.
However, shipments from U.S. and Canadian producers fell 3.6% compared with the first half of 2025.
The Aluminum Association attributed much of the increase in overall demand to higher imports of semi-fabricated products, particularly aluminum sheet, as manufacturers worked around domestic production disruptions.
Growing Canadian aluminum ingot exports to markets outside North America also contributed to the headline demand figure.
ScrapMonster Edge: Rising Demand Does Not Mean More Domestic Production
The most significant finding is the divergence between 3.5% demand growth and a 3.6% decline in domestic mill shipments.
The association's demand measure includes shipments from North American producers plus imports. Consequently, rising imports can lift total demand even when regional mills ship less metal.
Why it matters: For aluminum recyclers, processors and manufacturers, stronger demand does not automatically translate into increased domestic scrap consumption. Greater collection and recycling capacity can help strengthen regional supply, but additional local processing and manufacturing capacity is also needed to convert recovered aluminum into market-ready products.
Industry Calls for More Domestic Production and Recycling
The Aluminum Association said the latest figures reinforce the need for additional North American aluminum production capacity.
Through its America Needs Aluminum campaign, the organization is advocating investment in primary smelting, recycling infrastructure and downstream manufacturing, alongside improved access to reliable and affordable energy.
The association estimates that the U.S. aluminum industry has invested more than $11 billion in domestic operations over the past decade, primarily in midstream and downstream manufacturing and recycling.
Despite that investment, the first-half figures show that imports continue to play an important role in meeting regional aluminum requirements.
Source: The Aluminum Association, October 26, 2026. Figures are preliminary estimates from the association's Aluminum Situation statistical report.
