Aluminium industry fears outflow of scrap due to US tariffs

The German aluminium industry warns of dramatic consequences of the recently enforced US tariffs on aluminium. Whereas primary aluminium and aluminium-intensive products are subject to a high tariff, scrap aluminium remains tariff-free – with dire consequences for the European market.

US companies are buying in scrap at top prices, which means that scrap is becoming increasingly scarce or may even be sold out in Germany and Europe, comes the complaint from industry association Aluminium Deutschland. ‘It is imperative for the German government to speak up for export tariffs on scrap aluminium in Brussels, in order to put a stop to the uncontrolled outflow and to ensure fair competitive conditions for German recycling businesses. Without swift and decisive action by the EU, structures of the circular economy it has taken years to build will be destroyed and companies squeezed out of the market’, Rob van Gils, President of Aluminium Deutschland, emphasises.
Van Gils continues: ‘Companies are already feeling the bottleneck. If we do not take immediate action, the scrap shortage will intensify dramatically. That will not only jeopardise expansion of the circular economy, but will also undermine decarbonisation goals and Europe’s resource security.’
Source: Aluminium Deutschland