US imports of primary aluminum in April dropped by 20pc from a year earlier, as buyers tempered their pace of purchases following the implementation of 25pc import tariffs in March.
- Imports in April totaled 281,485 metric tonnes (t), down from 352,538t a year earlier, according to US Commerce Department data released late last week.
- Shipments from top supplier Canada fell by 23pc to 185,674t, while volumes from the United Arab Emirates dropped by 19pc to 41,596t.
- South Africa supplied the third-most primary aluminum to the US, with imports more than doubling to 17,690t.
- Imports from Argentina plummeted by 96pc to 294t, while volumes from top-10 suppliers Bahrain, Australia and India fell on the year, as well.
The White House on 12 March implemented the Section 232 tariffs on US aluminum imports.
Domestic mills seeking to mitigate cost increases front-loaded purchases of primes before the higher protectionist duties took effect, with imports in March reaching 441,863t — the most since May 2023.
Last week, US president Donald Trump doubled the tariff rate to 50pc for all countries except the UK, which has increased domestic aluminum prices to record highs.
It remains to be seen how consumers will adjust their procurement strategies in the face of the most recent tariff increase, given the US' overwhelmingly reliance on imports of primary aluminum.
| US primary aluminum imports | metric tonne (t) | ||||
| Country | April '25 | April '24 | ±% | March '25 | ±% |
| Canada | 185,674 | 243,798 | -23.8% | 251,473 | -26.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | 41,596 | 51,445 | -19.1% | 94,148 | -55.8% |
| South Africa | 17,690 | 5,894 | 200.1% | 3,216 | 450.1% |
| Bahrain | 13,334 | 19,715 | -32.4% | 19,863 | -32.9% |
| Qatar | 11,403 | 4,921 | 131.7% | 10,141 | 12.4% |
| Australia | 5,567 | 8,726 | -36.2% | 5,370 | 3.7% |
| India | 4,352 | 5,335 | -18.4% | 30,223 | -85.6% |
| South Korea | 522 | 794 | -34.3% | 3,053 | -82.9% |
| France | 491 | 382 | 28.5% | 449 | 9.4% |
| Argentina | 294 | 7,644 | -96.2% | 18,023 | -98.4% |
| Rest of the world | 562 | 3,884 | -85.5% | 5,904 | -90.5% |
| source: US Commerce Department | |||||
