The Aluminum Association released preliminary estimates as part of its ongoing Aluminum Situation statistical report showing a 3.5% year-over-year increase in aluminum demand for North America (U.S. and Canada) through the first half of 2026. The increase represents a rebound from declining demand during the same period last year, though growth was driven largely by imports of semi-fabricated aluminum products rather than increased shipments from domestic producers.

“North American aluminum demand is moving in the right direction, but the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story,” said Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “While overall demand is growing, domestic mill shipments continue to decline as imports fill much of the gap.”

Among key takeaways from the report:

• Aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 13.57 billion pounds through June 2026, increasing 3.5% from the first half of 2025 total of 13.12 billion pounds.
• Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 9.87 billion pounds, increasing 1.5% year-over-year.
• Apparent aluminum consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 12.14 billion pounds, advancing 1.8% year-over-year.
• Despite the increase in overall demand, shipments of semi-fabricated aluminum products from domestic (U.S. and Canadian) producers declined 3.6% year-over-year through June. (Information from the Aluminum Association Domestic Shipments & Inventories Report)
• Much of the increase in demand was driven by imports of semi-fabricated products, including aluminum sheet, as North American manufacturers worked to offset domestic production disruptions. Growing exports of aluminum ingot from Canada to third countries also contributed to the increase in the headline demand number.
   

The new figures follow an estimated 0.8% decline in North American aluminum demand in 2025.

The latest data reinforces the need for a comprehensive strategy to strengthen domestic aluminum production and supply chains. Through its recently launched America Needs Aluminum campaign, the Aluminum Association is calling for an “all-of-the-above” approach to meeting growing aluminum demand with U.S. production — expanding both primary and recycled aluminum production; ensuring access to abundant and affordable energy; encouraging domestic manufacturing investment; and pursuing targeted trade enforcement against unfairly traded metal.
 

“America needs aluminum -- and we should be making and recycling more of it here at home,” Johnson added. “That means strengthening our domestic producers while ensuring manufacturers have access to the metal they need to compete. That’s why the industry continues to advocate for policies – from targeted trade enforcement and scrap export controls to permitting reform and common sense recycling rules – that will turn growing demand into more American jobs, investment and production.”
 

The U.S. aluminum industry has invested more than $11 billion in domestic operations over the past decade, largely in mid- and downstream production and recycling. Learn more about the association's campaign at www.AmericaNeedsAluminum.com.
 

The Aluminum Situation report is one of more than two-dozen ongoing industry statistical reports developed exclusively by the Aluminum Association through surveys of aluminum producers, fabricators and recyclers. Subscribers to the Aluminum Association statistical reports have access to an online portal with data users can manipulate directly to produce interactive, presentation-ready charts and graphs.
 

To learn more about the Aluminum Association's statistical offerings or to subscribe, visit www.aluminum.org/statistics.