Metal Cans
August 2026
Tinplate spot prices in the U.S. have moved sharply higher in 2026 and are now higher than contract prices by more than 5%.
U.S. tinplate spot was flat in North America but European spot tinplate moved upward by close to 2% in August.
Aluminum Can Sheet prices were essentially flat in August after a sharp runup for prices in 2026.
A large group of U.S. lawmakers have petitioned the Commerce Department to investigate the Midwest Premium on aluminum. This is particularly troublesome on scrap aluminum cans (UBC) which make up the majority of can stock inputs. Scrap aluminum is mostly generated domestically and should not be subject to London Metal Exchange premiums which apply to primary aluminum traded in London. The elimination of tariffs alone would not return the MWP to historical norms, however. We outlined the methods we coached clients on several years ago in our August report..
Here is a Sampling of information that other sources don't provide
Actual prices for annual contracts and spot tinplate rather than indices
Import Prices for all major exporting nations
Tinplate Value Chain for North America, Europe and China
Tracking of tin plating costs each month
Projections for all major inputs updated monthly
Extensive tracking of steel coil prices and accurate projections 12 months out
Import volumes by country and tracking against quotas
Detailed cost improvement recommendations
Pricing for all geographies
Tinplate supply & demand
Metal can market data
Decorating costs
Here is a sampling of the content we provide
Metal can market data
Primary aluminum supply and demand history and projections
Accurate primary and scrap aluminum projections
Accurate Forecasts for can stock prices
Decorating Costs
Metal Can Cost Models
Pack Trax metal can cost models are cost effective
software that is designed for packaging procurement
professionals. The metal can software is simple to use and allows you to select a variety of can types for both tinplate and aluminum cans.
Each cost driver can be optimized using recommendations from our extensive User Guide.
This places packaging procurement professionals in a position to lead supplier cost improvement with can suppliers.