US Aluminum Imports Decline 5% in August Amid Canada Supply Dip

Global Trade Tracker (GTT)

Imports of unwrought aluminum to the United States fell by 5% in August 2024, largely driven by a decrease in shipments from Canada, the top supplier. According to data from Global Trade Tracker (GTT), the U.S. imported 297,000 metric tonnes (t) of aluminum in August, down from 314,000t in the same month in 2023.

Canadian shipments, which make up two-thirds of U.S. aluminum imports, accounted for most of this decline. Canada’s volume slipped to 203,000t from 221,000t a year earlier, nearly matching the 17,000t drop in total U.S. aluminum imports year-on-year. The UAE, the second-largest supplier, increased its contribution to 34,000t, up from 28,000t in August 2023. In contrast, Australian and South African exports to the U.S. saw a cumulative decline of around 5,000t, contributing to the overall reduction in U.S. aluminum imports.

Australia Drops as Major Supplier

Year-to-date figures underscore a shift in the U.S. aluminum import landscape. Total U.S. aluminum imports as of August 2024 stood at 2.615 million tonnes (mn t), down from 2.843mn t during the same period in 2023. Australia’s exports to the U.S. saw a dramatic reduction, falling to 57,000t from 182,000t, relegating it from third-largest to sixth-largest supplier. Canadian imports, however, rose slightly year to date, reaching 1.840mn t, up from 1.760mn t in 2023.

South Africa’s aluminum contributions also dropped, with volumes decreasing to 82,000t from 120,000t year-to-date August. The UAE’s year-to-date exports to the U.S. fell to 295,000t, down from 397,000t in the same period last year, further reflecting shifting dynamics in the U.S. aluminum import market.