Alvance sees US aluminium export bump amidst tariff volatility
A Lochaber-based company is celebrating a major boost in US sales following changes to American trade tariffs.
Alvance British Aluminium reported higher exports to the US after the country’s volatile tariff policy began favouring UK imports.
The surge follows the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal announced in May, which gave British exporters an advantage over rivals facing a 50 per cent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on steel and aluminium.
The UK is currently subject to a 25 per cent tariff, with negotiations under way to reduce it to zero.
Alvance said the shift allowed it to redirect spot market sales during its summer maintenance outage into the US Midwest. A third-party merchant has already purchased and taken delivery of 1,000 tonnes of aluminium, now en route to America.
Tom Uppington, Managing Director at Alvance, said: “The shift in tariff structures has allowed us to strengthen our market position and extract more value from our output.
“By combining short-term agility with long-term investment, we are ensuring that Alvance continues to compete effectively on the world stage.”
However, while the current conditions have helped Alvance prosper, uncertainty remains about the long-term situation.
On August 29, a US appeals court upheld a ruling that the Trump administration exceeded its authority in imposing tariffs under emergency powers. The decision, which could lead to tariff refunds and annul trade deals, is on hold until October 14 pending a possible Supreme Court appeal.
The prospect of refunding tariffs already collected and annulling reciprocal deals could significantly change the commodities market again and would be welcomed by major rival exporters such as Canada, Mexico and China. Canada is by far the primary aluminium import supplier to the US, accounting for 3.2m metric tonnes in 2024.
In addition to its export success, Alvance confirmed a £1m investment in its Lochaber site during summer maintenance, including equipment upgrades and process improvements.
Mr Uppington says the site improvements will ensure the firm can continue supporting local jobs, the regional economy, and contribute towards the country’s energy security.
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