U.S. aluminium household article import to drop in 2017 after two years of rise

After registering strong growth for two consecutive years, the U.S. aluminium household article import sector is nearing a drop in 2017. Market participants are of the opinion that changing international trade scenario, tariff structures and opposing views on the use of aluminium in food containers and as packaging material might have impacted on the demand of aluminium household articles in the U.S. market. However, with definite proof missing on the belief and WHO putting up safe estimates for the metal, it is expected that the imports will pick up once the politico-commercial issues have been sorted out in the upstream sectors.

Global trade shows that the U.S. imported 24,2007 tonnes of aluminium household articles in 2016, a figure higher by almost 57 per cent from that in the previous year. In 2015, aluminium household articles import by the U.S. totalled 154338 tonnes. It was a jump of 240 per cent from the volume imported in 2014. The value of import has also risen year-on-year.

However, from the above graph it can be seen that estimated U.S. aluminium household articles import will drop in 2017 reaching 219831 tonnes by December 31. The estimated value of import will reach US$1.05 billion, down from US$1.12 billion last year.

Household articles comprises 0.19 per cent of the US$584 billion worth consumer goods industry in the U.S. and comes after apparel and footwear, cell phone, TV category, and pharma imports. In 2016, the country imported goods and services worth US$2.7 trillion. In September 2017, imports jumped 1.2 per cent month-over-month to US240.3 billion, recovering from an upwardly revised 0.2 per cent drop in August, revealed data collated by Trading Economics.