ASMA Calls for Gov't to Cut Primary Aluminum Import Tariffs

The Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA) is urging the government to adjust import tariffs on primary aluminum to mitigate the impact on the downstream aluminum industry.

In a letter to the government, ASMA argued that the 7.5% tariff on primary aluminum, which is initially produced from alumina through the electrolysis process, is driving domestic prices to levels that many manufacturers can no longer sustain. However, secondary aluminum made from recycled scrap does not face this issue, but most downstream producers still heavily rely on primary metal.

According to the association, the downstream industry encompasses hundreds of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and plays a crucial role in extracting economic value from aluminum. Its competitiveness is already under threat. ASMA warned, "We urge the government to reduce the import tariff on primary aluminum to ensure rationalization of domestic prices," adding that primary aluminum alone accounts for nearly 80% of production costs in this sector. Import tariffs directly contribute to higher selling prices.