Maxion Wheels has introduced Maxion C-GUARD, a proprietary ceramic surface treatment for its latest range of forged aluminium truck wheels. The technology forms a permanent molecular bond with the wheel surface, improving resistance to corrosion, physical wear, chemicals and UV exposure. Its hydrophobic and oleophobic properties are designed to reduce the adhesion of brake dust, road salt, grease and mud, helping lower cleaning and maintenance requirements. The new forged aluminium wheel range will be produced at Maxion's new plant in Manisa, Türkiye, with C-GUARD, brushed and polished finish options.

SMM August 11 News: In July, the domestic primary aluminum alloy sector exhibited a pattern of "short-term uptick followed by moderation." Production reached 309,000 tonnes, up 6.1% month-on-month, with the industry operating rate moving in tandem. However, this output increase was not driven by end-user demand, but rather reflected a tactical inventory adjustment along the supply chain. On the demand side, the automotive sector had already entered its traditional off-season, with weak actual procurement appetite. Primary alloy producers continued to fulfil long-term contracts, while new order inflows remained limited. In mid-July, when aluminum prices dropped to a cyclical low, downstream buyers took the opportunity to restock at lower levels, aiming to manage working capital costs. This buying activity temporarily eased the selling pressure on alloy producers and prompted them to raise operating rates. By month-end, however, aluminum prices had rebounded steadily, dampening buyers' enthusiasm. Market transactions turned subdued as downstream players showed little tolerance for higher-priced raw materials. Looking ahead to August, primary alloy output is expected to retreat. The concentrated restocking in July has largely satisfied near-term raw material requirements. Coupled with sustained firm aluminum prices, downstream purchasers are likely to remain cautious, constrained by rising financing costs. Alloy producers, facing weakening new order visibility, may proactively cut production schedules. In contrast, the aluminum alloy wheel segment demonstrated notable external demand resilience. In June, China's aluminum wheel exports surged 17.7% month-on-month, and the year-on-year growth widened to 20.5%. The low base in May provided room for the rebound, but more importantly, overseas new-energy vehicle demand continued to expand, with major destination markets placing significantly larger orders. In addition, the narrowing spread between domestic and international aluminum prices alleviated the previous drag on exports. Overall, June exports recorded both volume and price gains, underscoring the sustained reliance of overseas markets on China's wheel supply chain. Taken together, the current aluminum fabrication sector is marked by a "weak domestic demand vs. resilient exports" dynamic. Primary alloy production, constrained by the seasonal slowdown and downstream price sensitivity, is unlikely to sustain its July rebound, with a contraction highly probable in August. Meanwhile, aluminum wheel exports are poised to maintain momentum, supported by robust overseas NEV demand, making it one of the few bright spots in the downstream aluminum market. In the near term, key factors to watch include the trajectory of aluminum prices and its impact on procurement timing, as well as any shifts in foreign trade policies that could affect wheel shipments.

SMM August 11: In July, China's primary aluminum alloy industry exhibited a pattern characterized by a short-term surge followed by a slowdown. In terms of production data, production that month posted 309,000 mt, up 6.1% MoM, with the industry's operating rate moving up in tandem. However, this production rebound was not driven by end-use demand, but rather reflected a phase of behavioral adjustments along the industry chain. Demand transmission side, the automotive industry has entered the traditional consumption off-season, end-user purchasing willingness remains relatively weak, and primary aluminum alloy enterprises continue to focus on fulfilling long-term contracts, with limited growth in new orders. When aluminum prices dipped to relatively low levels in mid-month, downstream enterprises, motivated by cost management considerations, engaged in concentrated bargain-hunting restocking activity, easing shipment pressures for alloy enterprises to a certain extent and prompting them to raise production loads. However, towards month-end, as aluminum prices rebounded into elevated ranges, buying interest from downstream sectors contracted sharply, with significantly reduced capacity to absorb high-priced raw materials, and market transactions turned sluggish. Looking ahead, primary aluminum alloy production in August is expected to face downward pressure, as earlier concentrated bargain-hunting restocking activity has partially exhausted near-term raw material demand, coupled with aluminum prices currently consolidating on a strong note. Rising financial pressures on downstream enterprises will further dampen procurement sentiment, while the outlook for new orders at alloy enterprises remains pessimistic, potentially leading them to proactively scale back output levels. Unlike the domestic demand fluctuations in the primary alloy market, the aluminum wheel hub segment has demonstrated strong resilience in external demand. In June, China's exports of aluminum wheels rose 17.7% MoM, with the YoY increase widening to 20.5%. On one hand, a low export base in May provided room for this MoM growth; on the other hand, the release of demand for NEVs in overseas markets, with significant new orders for procurement from key export destinations, directly boosted total exports. At the same time, the price spread between domestic and overseas aluminum prices has been stabilizing, and the earlier drag on exports is easing. Overall, exports strengthened in both volume and price in June, reflecting the continued reliance of markets outside China on the country's wheel supply chain. Looking at the bigger picture, the aluminum processing industry is currently in a state where 'domestic sales are under pressure, and exports are filling the gap.' Primary aluminum alloy is constrained by the off-season in end-use demand and downstream fear of high prices, so the sustainability of the production rebound is questionable, with a strong expectation of contraction in August; meanwhile, supported by overseas demand for NEVs, the momentum in exports is expected to be sustained, making it one of the few bright spots in current aluminum downstream consumption. In the near term, key attention should be paid to how aluminum price trends will further steer downstream procurement pace, and the potential disruptions from overseas trade policies on wheel exports. (The information above is based on market data and a comprehensive assessment by the SMM research team, and is provided for reference only. This article does not constitute direct investment research advice, clients should make decisions prudently and not replace their independent judgment with this. Any decisions made by clients are unrelated to SMM.) Data source: SMM

A Turkish integrated steel producer has won an international tender to supply railway wheels to Algeria’s national railway operator. The parties signed the first purchase contract under a supply program worth approximately USD 27 million. The wheels will be manufactured and delivered through batch-based orders over five years. The agreement is the producer’s highest-value export contract in the past five years and is expected to improve long-term export visibility and revenue predictability.

In H1, the industry showed distinct characteristics: upstream raw material imports experienced a mix of hot and cold trends, while mid-and downstream aluminum processing product exports saw explosive growth. Diverging domestic and overseas demand, shifting overseas manufacturing orders, and changes in the overseas raw material supply landscape are jointly reshaping the trade pattern of China's aluminum industry chain.

Hyundai Motor Group announced on July 21 that it will globally launch All Day Energy, an integrated V2X service that uses electric vehicles as “batteries on wheels.” V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything, is a technology that connects EV batteries bidirectionally with power grids, allowing vehicles to be charged during periods of low electricity prices and later send power externally when needed.