Aluminum Association has launched a monthly report tracking key insights from the International Trade Administration’s Aluminum Import Monitoring (AIM) programme.

The Aluminum Association long advocated for the creation of an AIM system as a critical tool for trade monitoring and enforcement and to address possible transshipment in the aluminum market.

The programme was included as a priority item in the Commerce Department’s fiscal year 2021 budget request with strong bipartisan support and is administered by the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. 

“The AIM system is a critical early warning tool for the aluminum industry to track trade flows and enforce trade laws,” said Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “The association’s monthly report analysing key data from the AIM will help us to be nimble and responsive to trends in the marketplace in near real time.”

The report includes a breakdown of aluminum import license applications by product type and country as well as detailed spreadsheets with all relevant data through February 28. Notable import increases highlighted in this month’s report include:

• The Tube & Pipe fitting product category saw a 184% increase over the three-month Census average driven by an unprecedented amount of license applications from Italy. 
• South African import license volume showed a 302% increase over the three-month census average with a total volume of 22,775 metric tons (MT). 
• Chinese import license volume showed a 24% increase over the three-month census average with a total volume of 23,981MT.