Used beverage cans are a widely traded aluminium feedstock, commonly compressed into export bales. Professional buyers focus on recoverable aluminium and process burden. A claim such as “95–98% purity” is ambiguous unless the seller explains whether it means metallic content, aluminium within metallics, laboratory chemistry or expected plant yield.
Specification points
| Accepted feed | Used aluminium beverage cans prepared to the buyer's agreed standard. |
| Moisture | Define maximum free moisture, measurement method, sample timing and deduction formula. |
| Contamination | Steel cans, plastics, glass, paper, sand, organics, liquids and other non-aluminium content. |
| Bale condition | Dimensions, density, wire or strap condition, stability and freedom from concealed foreign material. |
| Prohibited material | Pressurised containers, hazardous residues, batteries, sealed units and radioactive material. |
Representative bale inspection
Top-surface inspection is inadequate for dense bales. The parties should agree bale selection across the lot, opening or breaking method, number and mass of samples, moisture test method, magnet separation and treatment of fines. Where settlement depends on yield, a controlled test or plant result may be more relevant than a simple visual estimate.
Deductions and claims
Contracts should distinguish free moisture from other contamination and avoid double deduction. They should define tolerance, rounding, independent survey rights, retained samples, destination reinspection, notification time and whether the remedy is a price adjustment, replacement, rejection or another negotiated outcome.
General commercial guidance only. Grade nomenclature and market practice vary. The signed contract, current official specifications and transaction-specific professional advice control.