U.S. Consumption Of And Recovery From Purchased New And Old Aluminum Scrap, By Class

This table presents detailed data on the consumption and recovery of aluminum from purchased new and old scrap within the United States, categorized by different classes of consumers such as secondary smelters, independent mill fabricators, foundries, and other consumers. This information is crucial for understanding the role of aluminum recycling in the domestic supply chain, highlighting the efficiency of scrap utilization and the contribution of recycled aluminum to the overall metal supply. Tracking these figures helps industries optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact, and maintain economic competitiveness by minimizing reliance on primary aluminum production.

Analyzing the data from 2021 to 2022 reveals a slight overall decline in total consumption of aluminum scrap, from 3.56 million metric tons to 3.55 million metric tons. Secondary smelters, the largest consumers, decreased their scrap intake by approximately 70,000 metric tons, from 2.06 million to 1.99 million metric tons, with a corresponding drop in aluminum recovery from 1.46 million to 1.39 million metric tons. Conversely, independent mill fabricators increased their consumption by 50,000 metric tons to 1.47 million metric tons, boosting aluminum recovery to 1.26 million metric tons. Consumption by foundries and other consumers remained relatively stable. The estimated full industry coverage figures also show a minor decrease in consumption but a slight increase in metallic recovery, suggesting improvements in processing efficiency or scrap quality. These trends reflect subtle shifts in the aluminum recycling sector, with potential implications for supply chain dynamics and resource management.