The Aluminum Association describes aluminium as the fastest-growing material in cars and trucks. Lighter vehicles and electric drivetrains need more die-cast housings, extruded battery trays and crash structures. Many of these parts for the US aftermarket and for tier-2 supply already come from Southeast Asian foundries and extruders.
Which tariffs can apply
| Programme | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Section 232 — automobile parts | Listed vehicle parts, at its own rate, since 2025 |
| Section 232 — aluminium | Aluminium articles and derivatives, on full value since April 2026 |
| Base (MFN) duty | Per HTS code, usually in Chapter 87 or 84 |
| Country-specific duties | See US tariffs in 2026 |
CBP has issued rules on which Section 232 programme applies when a part could fall under more than one, so that the same value is not normally charged twice. The order of priority matters for your DDP price. Ask your broker to confirm the treatment for each part number before quoting.
Quality documents that travel with the parts
- PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) package, approved before the first production shipment.
- Material certificates showing the alloy (for example A380 die-cast or 6082 extrusion) and heat-treatment records.
- IATF 16949 certification is often required by OEM-tier buyers. Aftermarket buyers may accept ISO 9001.
- Smelt and cast information for the aluminium — see AIM licences.
Packing and shipping
- Machined surfaces need rust-preventive oil on steel inserts, VCI bags and returnable or export dunnage.
- Label each box with the part number, revision, lot and quantity in the buyer's format (often AIAG labels).
- Ocean LCL or FCL for steady programmes. Air freight for launch volumes and urgent recovery.
DDP to the plant or distribution centre
US assembly plants and aftermarket distributors work with tight delivery windows. A DDP set-up removes the customs step from the buyer's side. Parts arrive cleared, duties paid, with the delivery booked into the receiving dock. For high-volume programmes, a US buffer warehouse can supply weekly releases — see warehousing options.
Related: alloy and HTS guide · air freight · DDP checklist.