7/11/2025
UK - SECONDARY ALUMINIUM MARKETS MOVE SLOWLY INTO SUMMER SLOWDOWN
The UK secondary aluminium markets showed only small movements in the week to Wednesday July 9 ahead of the seasonal summer slowdown, when smelters will close for maintenance breaks and with export demand into Asia slowing for the same reason.
Ingot makers were set to shut down for two weeks between now and mid-August, with spot trading grinding to a near-total halt amid the traditional period for worker vacations, shutdowns and maintenance.
Trading appeared low-key in all secondary aluminium markets in the near term, and trade sources expected quiet business conditions in July and August.
As usual, there were expectations of renewed demand in September, but business confidence was being undermined by the shadows cast by subdued manufacturing levels, energy and labor costs, exchange rates, and the threat of US import tariffs and potential reciprocal action.
Relatively tight scrap availability in the UK has been affected by strong demand from export markets in recent weeks, with secondary grade material moving primarily to India and Southeast Asia. This competition between domestic and international buyers has supported scrap prices at a time when the downstream ingot margin was slowing for the summer shutdowns.
The prices for primary grades of scrap were little changed this week, supported by a firm LME aluminium cash price.