According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, a massive fire on September 16 at Novelis' Oswego, New York aluminum plant has severely disrupted aluminum sheet supply for major automakers, including Ford Motor Co.

The blaze destroyed the plant's hot mill, the main area for primary aluminum sheet production, which will remain offline until early 2026. Novelis' Oswego facility supplies about 40% of the aluminum sheet used by US automakers. Ford, the largest user of its profitable F-150 pickup, is heavily impacted.

To mitigate shortages, Novelis is sourcing aluminum from its overseas plants in Europe, Brazil, and South Korea, although a 50% US tariff poses added cost challenges. Automakers are actively adjusting supply chains and exploring alternative suppliers to minimize production delays.