Can Manufacturers Institute

10/02/2026

Happy National Manufacturing Day! Today, and every day, we celebrate the people, innovation, and ingenuity behind American manufacturing — including the people who make metal cans that keep food fresh, beverages protected, and products on shelves across the country.

From aluminum beverage cans to steel food cans, metal can manufacturing delivers value, supporting American jobs, strengthening domestic supply chains, and delivering packaging that is durable, lightweight, and highly recyclable.

Behind every can is a network of American manufacturers, suppliers, and workers helping keep our economy moving and communities thriving.

We’re proud to celebrate the people who make it all possible.

Learn more about our industry's national economic impact: https://www.cancentral.com/about/

08/24/2026

Tariff policies should put American canned foods first—not give foreign imports a competitive advantage. In a new RealClearMarkets op-ed, CMI President Scott Breen explains how the current tariff structure undermines U.S. farmers, food producers, and can manufacturers.

American-made food cans face a 50% Section 232 tariff on tinplate steel. In sharp contrast, importers of filled food cans pay no Section 232 tariff. The consequences of this are significant. Nearly 6 billion food cans were imported in 2025—an 8% increase from the previous year—while American canneries and manufacturing jobs face growing pressures.

President Trump can fix this by adding targeted imported canned foods to the Section 232 derivatives list. A strong domestic canned-food supply chain supports American farmers, protects manufacturing jobs, and strengthens our nation’s food security.

Read Scott's full op-ed to learn more: https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/08/24/the_failure_to_put_american_canned_food_first_1201759.html

Americans will increasingly be buying pantry staples like canned corn and green beans that say in small print on the back of the can, “Product of China&rd

07/28/2026

The latest Bloomberg Markets magazine feature by Shawn Donnan underscores what America's can manufacturers have been saying for months: Tariffs on tinplate steel are creating unintended consequences across the U.S. food can supply chain.

Domestic can manufacturers support a strong American steel industry and want to see more U.S. tinplate steel production. But today's reality is that domestic supply cannot meet demand, leaving manufacturers no choice but to import the specialty steel needed to make steel cans.

The result? Higher costs for can manufacturers, food producers, farmers, and ultimately American families. The solution is trade policies that put America first. This means:

• Ensuring adequate access to tin mill steel until U.S. capacity is restored.
• Supporting policies that protect American manufacturing and food security without driving up food costs.
• Encouraging active investment in domestic tinplate steel production.

Steel production, can manufacturing, and food security all are vital to America. Smart trade policies should support all three.

Read the full Bloomberg feature to learn more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-07-26/how-trump-s-steel-tariffs-impact-america-s-tin-can-industry?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4NTI2NjAyMywiZXhwIjoxNzg1ODcwODIzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUSVNWT01LR0lGUEUwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJGRThDRDM4ODBGQjM0MDgxQTM2RkQwMEY2MTE4NUQyQyJ9.J-IOCbxJXauLW0PvK--Q5TfFUEpiGeHuRxiVo9IPX18

The industry’s struggle is a cautionary tale as the US president tries to rebuild his protectionist regime.

07/09/2026

06/25/2026

Recycled cans become new cans in 60 days or less! That turnaround time happens at a rate of nearly 90,000 aluminum beverage cans every minute! Jerry Rig Everything visits Constellium in Alabama to turn a mountain of aluminum cans into something new! Watch now: https://youtu.be/PR5mykiFzN4?si=SzW-pSqLoTm3hHFV

Can aluminum cans *actually* be recycled? The process is fascinating. New video is live!!

06/04/2026

One year ago today, the 50% tariff on tinplate steel took effect.

While designed to strengthen American manufacturing, tariffs have had real negative consequences for the broader food supply chain.

American can manufacturers, farmers, and food producers are facing unavoidable rising input costs that are translating to higher prices for consumers. Pantry staples are becoming more expensive for American consumers.

At the same time, foreign canned foods are gaining ground in grocery aisles since they pay much less in tariffs than the U.S. steel food can value chain.

U.S. can manufacturers strongly support robust manufacturing policy, but tinplate steel tariffs are creating unintended consequences across the food system, impacting consumers and families.

A more targeted approach can protect American industry without driving up costs.

Learn more: StopTheCanTax.com and AmericanFoodFirst.com

05/15/2026

♻️ More than 3 million aluminum beverage cans were recycled this school year through the Million Cans Recycling Contest! Thank you to Jessica Alexanderson & the Recycling Society team for your leadership!

💵The 56 schools raised approximately $56,000 in funds that will go back to supporting educational programming and infrastructure — proving that recycling used beverage cans not only delivers real environmental results but also economic impact for local communities!

🏫 By engaging students, schools, and communities, this initiative is helping build lifelong recycling habits. 21,734 elementary students engaged across 14 states in hands-on recycling, so they can learn about the circular economy in action.

🔄 Aluminum cans are the most recycled beverage container in the world — and every can recycled helps strengthen the circular economy! 🌎

Congratulations to all the students, and we look forward to next year's contest which will be even bigger and better!

Learn more: https://www.cancentral.com/more-than-3-million-aluminum-beverage-cans-recycled-in-the-latest-round-of-the-million-cans-recycling-contest/

The Million Cans Recycling Contest mobilized 56 schools across 14 states to recycle more than 3 million aluminum cans keeping more 87,000 pounds of aluminum out of landfills.

05/12/2026

05/12/2026

Front page news in The New York Times: Tariff pressures underscore a growing challenge facing America’s food security. Tariffs on tinplate steel are increasing costs for U.S. farmers, can manufacturers, food producers, and ultimately those costs get passed along to consumers.

Metal cans are one of the safest, most affordable, and most sustainable forms of food packaging. But domestic production of tinplate steel remains insufficient to meet current demand, and foreign-filled imports are being tariffed at lower rates, which creates a competitive disadvantage for cans made in the USA.

The U.S. can manufacturing industry supports expanding domestic tinplate capacity and welcomes investments in American steel production. But at the same time, policymakers must recognize today’s realities. America is a net food importer. Inflation is rising. Tariffs increase the cost of tinplate — without adequate domestic supply available — putting extreme pressures on food affordability and America's food security.

CMI continues to advocate for America First trade policies that strengthen U.S. manufacturing while ensuring American families have access to affordable canned goods made here in the USA. We must close tariff loopholes and put America first!

Learn more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/business/steel-tariffs-tin-cans-food-prices.html?unlocked_article_code=1.h1A.znkG.TiOJ6OVQY68Z&smid=url-share

The cost to put food in cans remains high because manufacturers must still import steel from overseas. U.S. Steel plans to reopen a tin-plate factory.