This morning, Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money to discuss the pressing challenges and key opportunities facing the UK aluminium industry. Speaking on behalf of more than 100 member organisations, Bloxsome outlined the sector’s economic significance, current trade barriers, and the critical need for long-term policy support.
Addressing recent developments in UK-US trade relations, Bloxsome said:
“We welcome the provisional exemption the UK has secured from the US’s sweeping 50% aluminium tariffs, but the final rules, especially around quota design and rules of origin, remain unclear. For a secondary aluminium economy like the UK, this matters deeply. As we await final implementation, ALFED is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade, UK businesses, and US counterparts to ensure the agreement supports the whole aluminium value chain, from primary producers to downstream fabricators, and delivers the long-term certainty our sector urgently needs.”
She also spotlighted the damaging impact of labour shortages and rising energy costs, noting that “fabricators are particularly exposed” and that “industrial electricity costs in the UK are up to 50% higher than in Europe,” directly limiting investment in decarbonisation and automation.
Bloxsome emphasised the importance of automation as a solution to these challenges:
“Automation allows manufacturers to maintain consistency, reduce waste, and improve safety. For companies that adopt it effectively, the rewards are substantial.”
As part of ALFED’s broader strategy, she outlined current advocacy efforts, including:
- Urging formal recognition of aluminium as a strategic material in UK industrial policy
- Supporting better access to automation funding
- Promoting a “Skills Pathway” for technical training and apprenticeships
- Leading the ‘As-Is’ Data Project to map production and scrap flows across the sector
The UK aluminium industry contributes £9.4 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually and supports over 108,000 full-time equivalent jobs. It plays a pivotal role across high-growth sectors such as aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and defence.
“Aluminium might not always be in the headlines,” Bloxsome concluded, “but its strategic role in transport, defence, energy, and infrastructure is undeniable. And it’s vital we keep making that case – clearly, consistently, and together.”
It’s often steel that grabs the headlines, but aluminium is just as vital when it comes to building a sustainable, secure and resilient economy.
To listen to Nadine’s full interview, tune in from 31 mins and 35 seconds: https://lnkd.in/d7DmNev4
