The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) has announced the publication of its new white paper, Reindustrialising UK Aluminium, marking an important step forward in our Make More of UK Aluminium campaign.

The report makes a clear case for recognising aluminium as a foundational material for Britain’s industrial future, while setting out the practical actions needed to help UK businesses invest, compete and grow.

At the heart of the report is a simple message: we do not need to build an aluminium industry from scratch. We need to create the conditions for the industry we already have to thrive.

Recognising the strength of UK aluminium

The report brings together updated economic evidence, analysis of the UK’s industrial capabilities and research undertaken in collaboration with Cranfield University.

ALFED’s refreshed economic model estimates that the UK aluminium industry directly contributes approximately £3.78 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supports 54,200 full-time-equivalent jobs.

Including UK supply-chain effects, the estimated contribution increases to £5.97 billion in GVA and 81,900 jobs.

These figures demonstrate the importance of an industry that spans recycling and remelting, primary production, extrusion, processing, finishing, fabrication, stockholding and distribution.

Aluminium is already essential to automotive, aerospace, defence, construction, infrastructure, clean energy, packaging and advanced manufacturing.

From recognition to action

The report also examines how decades of industrial contraction, high energy costs, gaps in processing capability and complex trade and regulatory conditions have affected the UK’s ability to capture more value from aluminium.

It argues that reindustrialisation must go beyond increasing recycling volumes or announcing new investment ambitions.

Instead, ALFED is calling for coordinated action across five priorities:

• Competitive industrial energy: Address the costs and infrastructure barriers affecting investment across the aluminium value chain.
• Higher-value circularity: Improve material-flow intelligence, sorting, alloy management, recycling and remelting capabilities.
• Connected manufacturing capability: Identify opportunities to strengthen commercially viable UK processing and manufacturing.
• Joined-up trade and carbon policy: Ensure decisions on tariffs, CBAM, carbon pricing and market access reflect their impacts across the industry.
• Strategic resilience and procurement: Connect aluminium capability to the UK’s future industrial, infrastructure and defence requirements.

A stronger voice for our members

The report reflects ALFED’s ambition to ensure that the full aluminium value chain is represented in discussions about the UK’s industrial future.

It also builds on its work with Cranfield University to improve understanding of aluminium material flows, identify evidence gaps and explore opportunities to retain more value through commercially viable UK activity.

Importantly, this is a wider ALFED industrial strategy initiative, separate from the Metals Circularity Group’s work, although the evidence and discussions can complement one another.

What happens next?

Through Make More of UK Aluminium, ALFED will use the report to support engagement with Government, parliamentarians, industry partners and regional stakeholders.

They are proposing a practical Government–industry delivery partnership, supported by better evidence on UK capabilities, a confidential pipeline of potential investment opportunities and measurable progress against agreed priorities.

They will also be looking to our members to help bring the report to life through real examples of investment, innovation, skills development, manufacturing capability and the challenges businesses face.

Nadine Bloxsome, Chief Executive of ALFED, said:

“UK aluminium has an enormous amount to offer Britain’s industrial future. We already have the businesses, expertise and skills that underpin so many strategically important sectors.

“Our focus now must be on creating the right conditions for that capability to grow. That means competitive energy, joined-up Government policy and a clearer understanding of where investment can strengthen the UK value chain.

“This report is about moving beyond recognition and towards practical action. We want to work with our members and Government to make more of the aluminium industry Britain already has.”