US: Aluminium imports up by 5% and exports stable y-o-y in 2022

Imports of aluminium by the US were recorded at 12.65 million tonnes (mnt) in calendar year 2022 (CY'22) against 12 mnt in CY'21, up 5% y-o-y. Exports by the US, on the other hand, stood at 3.52 mnt in CY'22, an increase of 1% compared to 3.49 mnt in CY'21.

Out of the total imports in CY'22, ore or concentrates decreased to 5.37 mnt, semi-finished products were at 4.4 mnt, and finished products at 2.22 mnt. Aluminium scrap imports continued to remain stable at 0.66 mnt in CY'22.

Country-wise imports

The import volumes to the US from Jamaica decreased by 15%, while imports from the UAE declined y-o-y in CY'22. As a result, overall import volumes edged down by 5% in CY'22.

Exports overview

Exports of aluminium ore/concentrates stood at 113,845 t in CY'22, down from 117,206 t in CY'21. Exports of semi-finished products were up 19% to 543,288 t, while exports of finished products rose by 5% to 904,604 t, followed by scrap which was at 1.96 mnt.

The country's aluminium exports were down 7% y-o-y to 260,596 t in December as compared to the previous year.

Country-wise exports

• Shipments to Mexico increase y-o-y: Exports from the US to Mexico stood at 948,661 t in CY'22, an increase of 7% as against 882,489 t in CY'21. Export volumes were largely stable with a marginal increase of 1% from 62,274 t in December 2021.
  
  
• Exports to Canada rise y-o-y: The US's exports to Canada were at 608,135 t in CY'22, up 4% from 582,703 t in CY'21. However, exports fell by 8% y-o-y in December from 44,494 t in December 2021.
  
  
• Exports to India up: Exports from the US to India stood at 463,760 t, up 4% in CY'22 compared to around 446,659 t in CY'21.