Aluminium imports and exports are worth more than five billion pounds annually, making them highly valuable elements of UK trade. Take drinks packaging as an example. The UK is a global leader when it comes to using aluminium for this application – we use an estimated 220,000 tonnes per year. We import most rolled material for can manufacturing from the EU. Then, we’re a powerhouse when it comes to recycling. In 2019, the UK recycled almost a million tonnes of aluminium scrap. We export recycled aluminium to the EU, where it’s transformed back into can sheet. The relationship is the circular economy in action.
We have a close working relationship with Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Since the 2016 Brexit referendum, we’ve given vital industry input into trade policy development, whether it relates to EU negotiations, US aluminium import duties or anti-dumping measures. From Rules of Origin to tariffs to regulation, we’re helping shape the UK’s negotiating position – and ensuring post-Brexit trade terms work well for UK supply chains.
