【SMM Aluminum Flash News】Jamaica Forecasts 24% Rise in Bauxite and Alumina Exports by 2026 Despite Weak Q1

Mercedes-Benz and Norsk Hydro have solidified their long-term partnership to accelerate the use of recycled aluminium across Europe. The initiative reinforces the automotive industry’s decarbonisation goals while reinforcing regional supply chains, thereby taking the EU a step closer to the Net Zero goals. As part of the expanded collaboration, Mercedes-Benz will become the first European automaker to use Hydro CIRCAL in serial production for its next generation of large electric vehicles (EV). The recycled aluminium contains at least 75 per cent post-consumer scrap, a significant increase from the previous minimum of 25 per cent. The material is produced from end-of-life vehicles, buildings and infrastructure through advanced recycling processes. Eivind Kallevik, President and CEO of Hydro, noted, the automotive industry’s requirement for “materials that can cut emissions without compromising quality, safety or performance.”

Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the European Union in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 have reported an almost 90 per cent year-on-year surge.In Q1 2026, Japan imported a total of 35,794 tonnes of aluminium scrap, of which 3,613 tonnes or 10.09 per cent, was imported from the EU.Comparing the Q1 volume over the years, a rising streak can be noted in Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the EU: Q1 2026 – 3,613 tonnes, rising 89 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,902 tonnes in Q1 2025 Q1 2025 – 1,902 tonnes, rising 40 per cent Y-o-Y from the 1,357 tonnes in Q1 2024 Concurrently, the annual shipment volume from the EU to Japan has witnessed a sharp Y-o-Y surge to 9,346 tonnes in 2025 from 5,815 tonnes in 2024. According to the data recorded in the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Q1 import value of Japan’s aluminium scrap from the EU is worth USD 3.26 million, marking a Y-o-Y gain of 45.54 per cent from USD 2.24 million recorded in Q1 2025. Hence, Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the EU in Q1 2026 have risen Y-o-Y despite an almost 50 per cent hike in the pricing segment.

US aluminium scrap recovery continued to strengthen at the start of 2026, with recycled metal production rising by double digits year on year, while primary aluminium output remained largely unchanged, according to the latest US Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Industry Survey. A total of 318,000 metric tonnes of aluminium was recovered from scrap in January 2026, up 14 per cent from the same month last year compared to 297,000 tonnes and 3 per cent higher than the revised December 2025 figure. Of the total, 179,000 metric tonnes came from new scrap and 138,000 metric tonnes from old scrap. Meanwhile, primary aluminium production totalled 58,000 tonnes during the month. Average daily output stood at 1,860 metric tonnes, unchanged from December 2025 and 1 per cent higher than January 2025.