According to external reports on October 24, Wayne Clifton, head of Hydro’s European recycling division, told S&P Global Commodity Insights that Hydro is focusing on technological investments to improve aluminum scrap supply and recycling rates in Europe to enhance self-sufficiency.
Speaking at the Aluminum Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Clifton emphasized Hydro’s goal to keep aluminum scrap within Europe.
Hydro has increased its aluminum scrap recycling from 175,000 tons in 2019 to 443,760 tons in 2023, with a target of reaching 850,000-1.2 million tons by 2030.
Technological Improvements and Focus on Mergers and Acquisitions:
Hydro is focusing on increasing the use of scrap in aluminum production to meet its decarbonization goals. Clifton pointed out that the fastest way to achieve zero emissions in recycling is through scrap. Producing recycled aluminum consumes only 5% of the energy used to produce primary aluminum, making technological development crucial for reducing the demand for primary aluminum.
The company has been investing in improving its recycling capacity, including a 1.8 billion Norwegian Krone investment in a scrap sorting facility in Wrexham, UK, which will process 30,000 tons of scrap annually. Hydro’s recent acquisition of Polish recycler Alumetal has also positioned the company upstream in the scrap supply chain.
In addition to acquisitions, Hydro is leveraging technological advancements, such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for sensor-based sorting, to improve the accuracy of separating scrap by alloy type. This process helps Hydro gather better materials for production lines but presents challenges as well.
Hydro’s third-quarter results, released on October 24, showed concerns about tightening scrap markets due to weak activity in the automotive, industrial, and construction markets.
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