Since 2021, most aluminium imports into the US need a licence from the Department of Commerce's Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis (AIM) system. The licence is free and issued automatically online, but it can only be completed with information that starts at your factory. Under DDP, your forwarder or the importer of record files it, so they need that data from you.
Who files the licence
The importer, the customs broker or their agent applies on the AIM website for each covered entry. It must be obtained before the entry summary is filed. When you sell DDP, this is part of the clearance work your logistics partner does on your behalf.
What information is required
| Data | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| HTS code, quantity, value | Commercial invoice and packing list |
| Country of export and country of origin | Invoice and origin documents |
| Countries of smelt — the largest and second-largest sources of primary aluminium in the product | Your billet or ingot supplier |
| Country of most recent cast — where the metal was last melted and cast into solid form | Your billet supplier or your own casthouse |
The origin of secondary (recycled) aluminium does not need to be reported. Shipments with low aluminium value can use a reusable low-value licence, and goods entering a bonded warehouse need the licence only when withdrawn for consumption.
Why the data matters beyond the licence
- The same smelt and cast information is reported to CBP for Section 232 purposes.
- Aluminium smelted or cast in Russia faces a much higher Section 232 rate, so buyers and CBP check it closely.
- Inconsistent answers between shipments can trigger questions about origin and transshipment — see aluminium origin risks.
Checklist for suppliers in Vietnam and Cambodia
- Ask each billet or ingot supplier for a statement of smelt and cast country for every purchase batch.
- Link batch numbers to production orders so each shipment can be traced.
- Put smelt and cast countries on the packing list or a separate declaration that travels with the documents.
- Keep records for at least five years — US importers may be asked to support entries for that long.
Related: Section 232 aluminium · importer-of-record rules for DDP · US entry types.