Visualized: U.S. Reliance on Canadian Aluminum

Visualized: U.S. Reliance on Canadian Aluminum

In 2024 alone, U.S. primary aluminum imports from Canada totaled nearly 2.7 million metric tons. This represents over half of the U.S.’s aluminum consumption and underscores Canada’s indispensable place in the U.S. aluminum supply chain.   

For this graphic, Visual Capitalist partnered with the Aluminium Association of Canada to explore the landscape of U.S. aluminum imports and discover its importance in the U.S. economy.  

Aluminum: A Critical Material

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy produced a list of materials and minerals that they believed were vital to achieving the nation’s goals and providing energy to its people.  

Aluminum appears twice on this list, both as a critical material for U.S. interests and energy. Aluminum has numerous applications in the defense and transportation sectors, from car alloy wheels to missile propellants.

However, despite its importance, producing aluminum is expensive and energy-intensive, so it’s no wonder that, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the nation imported nearly 3.6 million metric tons of the material in 2024 alone.

Here’s a breakdown of these imports by nation:

The Role of Canada

In recent years, the U.S. has consumed around 5 million metric tons of aluminum annually. However, considering U.S. primary aluminum production only totaled 678,000 metric tons in 2024, the nation has been relying heavily on imports to meet demand.

Considering its geographic proximity, favorable relations, and developed infrastructure specializing in aluminum production, Canada, as an official part of the U.S. defense industrial base, has been the ideal source for U.S. aluminum imports in recent years.

An Uncertain Future

Despite aluminum’s importance to U.S. interests, tariffs on metals and a change in the nature of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship threaten this balance.

Without Canada’s robust aluminum supply, the U.S. may struggle to meet demand for one of the nation’s most vital materials.