Aluminum Exports Drop 24.8% MoM, 32.8% YoY in March 2026

A UK survey of around 2,000 people shows strong support for government action to boost aluminum recycling, with about 58% concerned that too much aluminum is not reused domestically. Trade tensions, US tariffs and Asian subsidies have weakened UK recyclers’ competitiveness, leading to more scrap exports instead of local processing. In contrast, the EU has introduced measures to limit secondary aluminum exports, while the UK has yet to follow. Industry participants warn this trend reduces returns on domestic recycling investments and calls for policies such as deposit return schemes to increase recycling rates and strengthen circularity.

[SMM Express] Today, the inventory of secondary aluminum alloy ingots in China's major consumption areas increased by 380 mt compared with yesterday, with slight inventory buildup observed in Foshan, Ningbo, and Wuxi.

[U.S. announced ceasefire extension but maintained blockade; LME prices still had upward momentum] Overall, the strait blockade continued, and the supply gap outside China along with ongoing LME inventory drawdowns supported LME prices to hold up well. Meanwhile, China's aluminum ingot inventory remained at elevated levels, and attention should be paid to whether the turning point in China's inventory could materialize smoothly.