The North American aluminum industry has faced uncertainty in recent years amid challenging market conditions and shifts in international trade. However, as Jason Weber (pictured), president of the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), indicates in this interview, the aluminum extrusion industry remains resilient, finding ways to innovate and ensure stable billet supply. Prior to becoming the AEC president in September 2023, Weber served in a variety of commercial and management roles with Alumax, Alcoa, Sapa Extrusions, Hydro Extrusions, and Taber Extrusions. As such, he is able to provide nuanced insight into the industry.
What is your background in the aluminum extrusion industry? What is your role within the AEC?
I recently celebrated my 30th year in the aluminum extrusion industry. Throughout my career, I have worked across commercial operations tied to nearly every end-use market for aluminum extrusions, which provided valuable insight into the broad range of applications, customers, and channels our industry serves.
As president of the AEC, I am focused on strengthening the value and competitiveness of North American aluminum extrusion production. A major part of that work involves advancing the AEC’s Workforce Development and Business Excellence initiatives, while also supporting the continued growth of the market through industry promotion and fair trade advocacy. That combination of hands-on industry experience and association leadership gives me a strong appreciation for both the day-to-day realities and the long-term opportunities facing our industry.
What is the status of the North American aluminum extrusion industry? What are the current challenges and trends that the industry is facing?
The North American aluminum extrusion industry remains resilient and well positioned for the future, but there is no question we are operating in a challenging environment. Demand across key end-use markets like building and construction, automotive, electrical, infrastructure, and general industrial applications continues to support the long-term outlook for our industry. At the same time, the near-term market remains uneven, with some segments performing better than others.
The biggest challenges today are cost pressure, labor availability, trade distortion, and ongoing uncertainty in the broader manufacturing economy. Extruders are also being asked to do more than ever before. Customers increasingly want more than just a profile. They want fabricated and finished components, engineering support, sustainability data, dependable lead times, and consistent domestic supply. That is pushing the industry toward greater operational sophistication, more investment in technology, and a stronger focus on business excellence.
I also think the industry is doing a better job of recognizing and promoting the value of domestic extrusion. North American extruders bring a high level of technical knowledge, flexibility, quality, and customer support. Those strengths matter and will continue to matter even more going forward.
How is the billet market faring? Are extruders feeling secure in the supply of billet for their operations?
Extruders are watching a couple of things very closely right now. One is the current situation in the Middle East and the potential for supply disruption. Any time there is instability in that region, it raises concern about global aluminum flows, energy costs, and the possibility that supply conditions could tighten quickly. Even for companies that are primarily focused on North American operations, that kind of uncertainty matters.
At the same time, the billet market has clearly shifted over the last year as trade policy has changed. That has affected sourcing decisions, pricing dynamics, and how companies think about supply security. Today, the question is not simply whether billet is available. The question is whether you can get the right billet, with consistent quality and chemistry, at a competitive cost, and from a reliable source. That is why billet strategy has become such an important issue across the extrusion industry, and why I think more companies are focused on control, domestic sourcing options, and long-term risk management than they were even a year ago.
A trend the industry has seen in recent years has been extruders investing in their own casthouses. Do you have an estimate as to how many extruders in North America also have casthouses? Do you think this trend will continue in the years to come?
If you look at AEC extruder membership on a facility-count basis, approximately 20% to 25% of extruders operate casting operations. Of course, that does not tell the whole story, because a single casting operation can support multiple extrusion facilities. Even so, it shows that a meaningful portion of the industry has already made investments to gain greater control over billet supply.
I do believe that trend will continue, but probably with a more measured view than people may have had a few years ago. In-house casting still gives extruders more control over billet availability, alloy chemistry, scrap utilization, recycled content, and overall responsiveness to customers. In an environment where supply chain security, sustainability, and cost control all matter more than ever, those advantages are still meaningful.
That said, the equation is more complicated today. There is continued complexity around how process scrap and post-consumer scrap are treated in calculating carbon content, and not all scrap is viewed the same way from a sustainability standpoint. On top of that, the right types of scrap are not always readily available or easy to source for a casting operation. So while in-house casting can still offer important strategic advantages, simply having casting capability does not automatically provide the same benefit it may have once did. The value really depends on access to the right feedstock, the ability to manage chemistry and quality, and how that fits with both cost and sustainability expectations in the market.
It is also not the right solution for every extruder. It takes capital, scale, technical expertise, and the right long-term business case. But for companies that want more control over their raw material strategy and a stronger competitive position, it is still easy to see why this remains an important part of the industry.
Section 232 tariffs on aluminum continue to evolve. Can you talk a bit about these tariffs, their potential benefits or negatives, and how they have impacted and continue to impact extruders?
Section 232 remains important to creating a more level playing field for domestic aluminum extruders. It supports the goal of fair competition and a stronger U.S. extrusion industry. Under the current structure, one of the key remaining issues is valuation, and addressing that is important to ensuring the policy works as intended for aluminum extrusions.
Recently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency held an auction of 10,000 tons of high-grade aluminum extrusions. What was the reaction of the AEC and the extrusion industry?
The auction drew attention across the industry because it involved a large volume of aluminum and was an unusual event. It is also our understanding that the recent auction was the first of four lots expected to be sold, which added to the level of attention around it. More broadly, situations like this reinforce the importance of customs enforcement, product traceability, and proper oversight of imported aluminum products. The AEC’s focus remains on making sure the market operates fairly and transparently and that domestic producers are not put at a disadvantage by improper trade practices or weak enforcement.
What are the main priorities of the AEC at the moment? What does the council expect to focus on in the future?
The AEC’s highest priorities today are Workforce Development and Business Excellence. Our members are looking for practical ways to strengthen operations, improve performance, develop talent, and prepare the next generation of industry leadership. Those areas are critical to the long-term strength and competitiveness of the aluminum extrusion industry, and they are receiving a great deal of attention from the AEC.
We are also very focused on industry promotion and continuing to grow the market for aluminum extrusions. Our industry has a strong story to tell across a wide range of applications, and there is still significant opportunity to expand awareness of the performance, versatility, and value aluminum extrusions bring to the market.
Trade remains an important focus as well, particularly as it relates to maintaining a level playing field for domestic extruders. But overall, I would say the AEC’s strongest emphasis right now is on helping our members build stronger businesses, develop their workforce, and position the industry for long-term success.
The ET ’27 extrusion technology seminar is returning next year. Why do you personally feel that extruders and their customers should attend the event? What is the value?
ET has always been one of the most important events in the extrusion industry because it brings together the full technical and commercial value chain in one place. For extruders, it is an opportunity to learn, share best practices, see new technologies, and come away with ideas that can improve plant performance, product quality, and customer value. For suppliers, it is a chance to engage directly with the people driving investment and innovation within extrusion operations. For customers and specifiers, it is a great opportunity to better understand what extrusion can do and how it can help solve design and manufacturing challenges.
Planning for ET ’27 is already well underway, and we are very excited about this next iteration of the conference. The Call for Abstracts is currently open through April 30, 2026, and so far we have received more than 160 abstracts from over 20 countries. That level of early engagement says a lot about the strength of the ET brand and the global interest in this event. If you are an extruder, supplier, producer, or end user with an idea to share, ET is the place to do it. Submit an abstract now at ETpapers.org.
What makes ET especially valuable is that it is not just about theory. It is a very practical event. People leave with ideas they can use. They build relationships, see where the industry is going, and get a better understanding of the technology, trends, and capabilities shaping the future of extrusion. We expect ET ’27 to continue building on that momentum and further strengthen its position as the premier global event for the aluminum extrusion industry.
Personally, I think events like ET are essential to keeping our industry strong, connected, and moving forward.
Extruders, suppliers, and research institutes have been submitting abstracts for ET ’27. Do you have any early thoughts on the trends expected based on these submissions? What are likely to be major topics discussed at the event?
Even before the program is finalized, I think there are some clear themes emerging. The industry is increasingly focused on efficiency, process optimization, automation, sustainability, and ways to create more value through technical capability and downstream services.
I would expect strong interest in topics related to billet and alloy development, die and process optimization, press and equipment performance, fabrication and finishing, recycling and recycled content, and the broader role of sustainability in extrusion operations. I also think we will continue to see more discussion around digital tools, process data, and automation as companies look for practical ways to improve consistency, productivity, and cost performance.
Another trend I expect to see is a stronger connection between technical innovation and end-market opportunity. The industry is not just looking inward at plant operations. It is also looking outward at how new capabilities can open doors in automotive, construction, infrastructure, electrical, and other growing markets. That combination of technical advancement and market relevance is what makes ET such an important event.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the April 2026 issue of Light Metal Age. To receive the current issue, please subscribe.