Canadian aluminum reroutes to Europe

Canadian aluminum that usually moves south to United States factories was redirected to Europe after Washington raised import tariffs in 2025. (whitehouse.gov) The tariff path came in two steps: President Donald Trump set a 25% duty on aluminum imports from all countries in a February 10, 2025 proclamation published February 18, then doubled that rate to 50% effective June 4, 2025. (federalregister.gov) (whitehouse.gov) By the second quarter of 2025, the United States took 78% of Quebec aluminum exports, down from 95% in the first quarter, as shipments were diverted to Europe, according to reporting based on comments from Aluminium Association of Canada President Jean Simard. (bloomberg.com) (mining.com) Canada is not a marginal supplier. The United States Geological Survey said Canada accounted for 56% of U.S. crude and semi-fabricated aluminum imports in 2021 through 2024, while U.S. net import reliance was 60% of apparent consumption in 2025. (usgs.gov) The supply chain is concentrated in eastern Canada. Natural Resources Canada said the country produced about 3.3 million tonnes of primary aluminum in 2024, with 9 of its 10 smelters in Quebec and the other in Kitimat, British Columbia. (natural-resources.canada.ca) That metal feeds U.S. sectors that buy huge volumes every day. The United States Geological Survey said transportation used 36% of domestic aluminum consumption in 2025, packaging 24%, building 13%, and electrical uses 9%. (usgs.gov) Trade data show Europe absorbed more Canadian metal as the tariff shock spread. The Observatory of Economic Complexity said Canada exported C$10.4 billion of raw aluminum in 2025, including C$8.44 billion to the United States and C$1.27 billion to the Netherlands, with Italy and Poland also posting large year-over-year gains. (oec.world) European Union imports of aluminum from Canada reached about $1.65 billion in 2025, according to United Nations Comtrade data compiled by Trading Economics. (tradingeconomics.com) Canadian industry groups argued the tariff hit downstream U.S. manufacturers more than Canadian smelters. A C.D. Howe Institute paper published in 2025 said Canadian producers sell about 2.8 million tonnes of raw aluminum a year into the United States under long-term commercial arrangements that cannot be replaced quickly by domestic U.S. smelters. (cdhowe.org) The United States still has limited room to fill the gap at home. The United States Geological Survey said three companies operated six primary smelters in five states in 2025, but two smelters in Hawesville, Kentucky, and New Madrid, Missouri, remained temporarily shut since 2022 and 2024. (usgs.gov) The result is a rerouting story more than a production story: the same Canadian metal kept moving, but a larger share crossed the Atlantic instead of the border. (bloomberg.com) (usgs.gov)