Novelis Mill in Oswego County to Resume Full Production by Mid-2026

Ford says the fire-damaged hot mill will be back up and running between May and September 2026.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ford Motor Co. announced that it expects the Novelis aluminum plant in Scriba, Oswego County, to resume full production at its hot mill facility between May and September 2026, following two devastating fires that interrupted the automaker's supply of aluminum and cost it $2 billion in sales.

Why it matters

The Novelis plant is a critical supplier of aluminum to Ford and other automakers, providing around 40% of the domestic auto industry's aluminum needs. The fires have disrupted Ford's production and caused significant financial losses, highlighting the importance of a reliable aluminum supply chain for the automotive sector.

The details

The first fire occurred on September 16, 2025, and the second on November 20, 2025, damaging specialized equipment in the plant's hot mill where aluminum ingots are processed into sheet metal for vehicles like the Ford F-150. Ford reported a $2 billion hit to its earnings in 2025 due to the reduced vehicle production caused by the supply interruption. The company now expects to regain between $500 million to $1 billion in sales in 2026 as the Novelis plant resumes full production.

  • The first fire occurred on September 16, 2025.
  • The second fire occurred on November 20, 2025.
  • Ford expects the Novelis hot mill to resume full production between May and September 2026.

The players

Ford Motor Co.

An American multinational automaker that is a major customer of the Novelis aluminum plant.

Novelis

A global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, operating the 1.7-million-square-foot aluminum plant in Scriba, Oswego County, which provides about 40% of the aluminum used by domestic automakers.

Jim Farley

The president and CEO of Ford Motor Co.

Sherry House

The chief financial officer of Ford Motor Co.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have a team working closely with Novelis on the ground there, so we know exactly where things stand.”

— Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Co. (syracuse.com)

“We now anticipate gaining back from $500 million to $1 billion in sales with increased production in 2026.”

— Sherry House, Chief Financial Officer, Ford Motor Co. (syracuse.com)

What’s next

Ford has developed contingency plans for securing sufficient aluminum supplies in the future, but the details of those plans have not been provided.

The takeaway

The disruption to Ford's aluminum supply from the Novelis plant fires highlights the critical importance of a reliable supply chain for the automotive industry, which is increasingly reliant on lightweight materials like aluminum to improve fuel efficiency. The recovery timeline for the Novelis plant will be closely watched as Ford and other automakers work to mitigate the impact of the supply chain issues.