EU wants aluminum and steel to power 20% of its economic growth - How real is the ambition?

Source: AL Circle Jan 26, 2026 17:25

Aluminum is everywhere in Europe's economy, from power transmission and renewable energy systems to transport, defence, construction and packaging. Its importance has led the European Union to classify aluminum as a critical and strategic raw material. The challenge now is whether Europe's aluminum supply chain is keeping pace with the scale of that dependence. Europe also likes to point out that it produces aluminum more cleanly than almost anyone else. Recycling rates are high. Carbon intensity is low compared with the global average. On sustainability metrics, the region performs well.

But inside the industry, the picture looks far less comfortable. Energy costs remain structurally high. Global trade remains distorted. Scrap is increasingly leaving the region. Carbon leakage risks under CBAM are unresolved. Decarbonisation targets keep moving faster than investment decisions. None of these pressures is new. What is new

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