Why U.S. Aluminum Exports Plunged in the First Half of 2025?

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. aluminum exports recorded decline during the initial six month period of the current year.

When compared to the 804.67 thousand tons exported annually during the same half-yearly period in 2024, the export volume fell to 562.17 thousand tonnes in H1 2025. It is important to highlight that exports, which were 679.20 thousand tonnes in H1 2023 and 593.52 thousand tonnes in H1 2022, had been declining.

In H1 2024, the top destinations for U.S. aluminum exports were Thailand, India, Mexico, Canada, and Malaysia. But by 2025, Japan was the top importer of aluminum from the United States, followed by South Korea, Mexico, Vietnam, and India.

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A number of issues, such as smelter closures, rising energy prices, and trade limitations connected to tariffs, have contributed to the U.S. aluminum industry's growing problem, as evidenced by the precipitous drop in export volumes.

It should be mentioned that the capacity of a number of smelters and refining facilities has been reduced or closed. The nation's overall capacity to produce aluminum has been reduced by about 30% as a result of these closures.


Additionally, it is seen that the main aluminum plants are operating below capacity. For example, throughout the last three years, Century Aluminum's Mt. Holly smelter in South Carolina has been running at about 75% capacity. Since 2015, the plant has not operated at full capacity.