On one hand, there is a rush for materials driven by lithium aluminum foil and AI robots, while on the other hand, the horizontal trend of traditional cast aluminum alloys is weakening, the demand for aluminum is showing deep differentiation in November. The average price of 12 micron lithium battery aluminum foil is reported at 39130 yuan/ton, with a daily increase of 30 yuan. The expansion of battery foil overseas and energy storage production has continued to tighten the demand for high value-added aluminum materials.
At the same time, the trend of AI robot lightweighting reflected in the Wuzhen Expo has prompted the market to re-examine the usage space of aluminum in mobile machines. In the same market, A356.2 aluminum alloy ingots (East China) only slightly increased by 20 yuan to 23700 yuan/ton, ADC12 remained unchanged at 23400 yuan/ton in East China, and A380 increased by 50 yuan to 25550 yuan/ton in East China. The prosperity of the traditional processing end is relatively lagging behind, and the narrative of “ice and fire” is particularly clear in the aluminum industry chain.
Upon opening, there is indeed data to prove the pulling force of the new engine. The lithium battery aluminum foil series is all in the red, with 12 micron aluminum foil priced at 39130 yuan, 9-micron communication aluminum foil priced at 40630 yuan, 13 micron and 15 micron aluminum foil priced at 37630 yuan and 36630 yuan respectively, with an average daily increase of 30 yuan, which is in line with the export orders of battery foil and the increase in energy storage capacity. The lightweight of structural components driven by AI and commercial aerospace has raised the long-term ceiling of high-end aluminum materials from the perspective of demand structure.
However, the balance in the traditional field has not tilted synchronously, the casting aluminum alloy sector has remained calm overall, with A356.2 only slightly rising by 20 yuan and ADC12 remaining unchanged, indicating that the willingness to replenish inventory in the automotive and general casting sectors is still cautious. 6063 aluminum rod (South China) reported a price increase of 100 yuan to 22250 yuan/ton, while the profile end showed slight improvement but it is difficult to say that it has fully recovered. The constraints on the supply side are also at play, with alumina prices stabilizing at 2700 yuan/ton in East China and 2650 yuan/ton in South China, and bauxite grades ranging from 55% to 60% at 595 yuan/ton. The cost line forms a rigid bottom line for prices, preventing weak demand from directly evolving into price declines.
Overall, the tearing of aluminum demand is difficult to bridge in the short term: the incremental track represented by new energy and AI robots continues to absorb high value-added production capacity, while traditional processing still shows signs of fatigue before the full release of demand after the holiday. Low inventory and the suspension of bonded delivery have laid the foundation for overall prices, allowing differentiation to be more reflected in variety price differences rather than absolute prices.
The latest price of the Shanghai Aluminum 2612 contract is 23115 yuan/ton, an increase of 120 yuan from the settlement price of 22995 yuan on the previous trading day. Low inventory support has maintained a high volatility in the market amid demand differentiation. We need to focus on the sustainability of lithium battery aluminum foil export orders in the future, as well as whether traditional casting alloys can reach a turning point in inventory replenishment during the year-end stocking season. When the demand differentiation converges will determine the ownership of structural opportunities for aluminum prices in the next stage.
Post time: Nov-06-2026