“Copper Price Outlook – March 2026: Copper Surges! A New Opportunity for Thai Producers in the Global Market and the Power of Copper Amid War and the Transition to Clean Energy”

Thailand’s aluminum scrap market is entering an exciting new era. What was once considered “waste” has now become a strategic resource powering sustainability, circular economy models, and global technology industries. In particular, UBC (Used Beverage Can) scrap is emerging as a cornerstone of the circular economy, enabling closed-loop recycling and reducing carbon footprints. By 2026, Thailand is set to strengthen its role as a regional hub for aluminum recycling, transforming scrap from a low-value byproduct into “White Gold” for both domestic and international markets.

Aluminum Boom! LME Surges – Premium Hits Decade High In May 2026, the global aluminum market remains “the hottest in years.” Prices broke past $3,600 per ton, driven by supply disruptions in the Middle East and soaring demand from the EV and clean energy industries.

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. Approximately 75% of aluminium ever produced is still in use today as it can be recycled endlessly without compromising any of its unique properties or quality. Aluminium’s lifecycle provides significant benefits through recycling, saving 95% of the energy it would take to make new aluminium metal. More information on recycling may be found here. Recycling aluminium has five steps: Step 1: Collecting Scrap There are two categories of aluminium scrap: New Scrap New Scrap is surplus material that arises during the manufacture and fabrication of aluminium products, up to the point where they are sold to the final consumer. For example, off cuts of aluminium sheet or extrusions are considered new scrap. Sometimes, this new scrap can be safely recycled by aluminium smelters as its composition is known. Old Scrap Old Scrap is material that has been used by the consumer and subsequently discarded. For example, used beverage cans, window frames, electrical cabling and car cylinder heads are all considered old scrap. Aluminium smelters are unable to safely accept this old scrap as its composition is usually unknown and it can be contaminated. Scrap aluminium is also collected from the community – from households, scrap merchants, local and regional authorities, etc. Step 2: Sorting Scrap The scrap is then sorted – grouping all coated (painted or lacquered) aluminium together, and grouping all uncoated aluminium together. Paper, plastic and other non-aluminium recycling needs to be removed. Step 3: Crushing The sorted aluminium is then crushed into bales – by compacting the aluminium scrap, it reduces freight, storage and handling costs Step 4: Remelting Uncoated scrap is loaded directly into a large furnace called a remelter, where it is heated at high temperatures and turned into molten form. If the scrap aluminium is coated, it is processed through a gas fired rotary furnace to remove any coating and then transferred to the remelter. Step 5: Casting The molten aluminium is cast at a temperature of just over 700°C to form ingots