New energy vehicles and photovoltaics are taking aluminum to new heights. On July 30th, the average price of A356.2 aluminum alloy produced by Changjiang Comprehensive Casting was reported at 23950 yuan/ton, with a daily increase of 200 yuan. The average price of 9.5mm round aluminum pole for electricians is 24600 yuan/ton, an increase of 250 yuan. The wave of lightweighting has shifted from slogans to ton level orders, and the demand structure for aluminum is quietly being rewritten. The price signal on the processing end is more volatile than that of native aluminum. When weight reduction becomes a must-have for the cost of vehicles and components, the role of aluminum has shifted from being a substitute to a mainstay.
According to CCMN platform’s report on July 30th, the prices of aluminum processed products have collectively increased. The average price of A356.2 aluminum alloy ingots in East China is 23950 yuan/ton, an increase of 200 yuan.
The average price of ADC12 aluminum alloy ingots in East China is 23675 yuan/ton, up 70 yuan, while ADC12 in South China is reported at 23990 yuan/ton, up 120 yuan. Casting aluminum alloy A356.2 is the mainstream material for automotive wheels, and its 23950 yuan quotation is due to the upward production schedule of the entire vehicle factory.
On the photovoltaic and battery side, 9um communication aluminum foil is priced at 40630 yuan, 12um lithium aluminum foil is priced at 39380 yuan, and 13um lithium aluminum foil is priced at 37880 yuan, with an average daily increase of 230 yuan. The usage of aluminum foil in soft pack batteries increases with the improvement of battery life. Electrician round aluminum poles are used for ultra-high voltage and photovoltaic cables. The quoted price of 24600 yuan for the 9.5mm specification reflects the investment rhythm of the power grid.
The average price of 6063 aluminum bars in South China is 22400 yuan/ton, an increase of 200 yuan; 3003 aluminum plate East China 26170 yuan/ton, up 230 yuan; 5052 aluminum plate East China 28290 yuan/ton, up 230 yuan. Looking at it in detail, the average price of 6201 electrical round aluminum rods in North China has increased by 150 yuan from 24265 yuan, and the price of 99.7% deoxidized aluminum rods in North China has increased by 150 yuan from 23930 yuan.
A380 aluminum alloy ingot increased by 100 yuan from 25625 yuan in East China, ZLD102 aluminum alloy increased by 250 yuan from 23825 yuan, and the alloy matrix has fully heated up. The upstream synchronization of photovoltaics is relatively strong, with an average price of 31250 yuan/ton for polycrystalline silicon and 30750 yuan/ton for dense materials. The demand for aluminum for frames and brackets is stable.
The lightweighting of the entire vehicle and the use of aluminum for energy storage cabinets are simultaneously increased, while the processing cost remains relatively strong. The penetration rate of aluminum in new energy vehicles has increased, resulting in an increase of tens of kilograms of aluminum per vehicle compared to fuel vehicles, and the accumulated increase in primary aluminum is considerable.
The container shells of energy storage power plants are extensively made of aluminum profiles, becoming the second growth curve after automobiles. From a terminal perspective, the increase in aluminum consumption per bicycle and the increase in photovoltaic installed capacity are shifting primary aluminum consumption from building materials to high-end manufacturing.
The use of aluminum in traditional building profiles is still relatively plain, and the differentiation between old and new demand structures is becoming increasingly clear. The demand base for aluminum prices is being quietly replaced by new energy.
Aluminum for new energy has moved from concept to ton level orders. The use of aluminum for component frames and inverter housings is accelerating with the global installation pace, and the amount of aluminum used for car body in white and battery trays is increasing year by year. When car companies push the weight reduction target to single digits, how much room is there for aluminum substitution?
The next demand dark horse may be hidden in the cabinet of the energy storage container. And once the growth rate of new energy shifts, will the pricing power on the demand side return to traditional fields? The consumption map of aluminum is waiting for the next redraw. When lightweighting shifts from policy driven to cost driven, the substitution of aluminum for steel is no longer dependent on subsidies, but rather a hard constraint on the entire lifecycle of individual vehicles.
The electrification roadmap of overseas car companies has designated aluminum as the preferred metal for white body, giving global demand for aluminum resilience across cycles. The migration of aluminum from construction to transportation is reshaping the demand curve for electrolytic aluminum.
Post time: Jul-31-2026