[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary: Destocking Provides Support for Aluminum Prices During Off-Season, Prices Expected to Fluctuate Considerably] On the macro side, the phone call between China and the US may lead to a de-escalation of the trade war, while the rebound in China's manufacturing PMI and improvement in export indicators in May provide demand support, indicating that the resilience of the domestic economy remains. Fundamentals side, the operating capacity of domestic electrolytic aluminum remains stable, and the reduction in casting ingot volume has temporarily maintained the destocking trend of domestic aluminum ingot inventory. Cost side, the impact of the Guinea mine incident on alumina prices has eased somewhat, and the real-time cost of electrolytic aluminum has declined slightly MoM. On the demand side, it faces dual pressures from domestic seasonal weakness and trade uncertainties. In the short term, the operating rate of domestic aluminum processing enterprises will be under pressure, and the off-season atmosphere will intensify. Overall, the current low inventory and the expectation of a higher proportion of liquid aluminum provide strong support for aluminum prices. However, the off-season pressure on the demand side limits the upside room. Spot aluminum ingot in major consumption areas may soon face a situation of weak supply and demand, and aluminum prices are expected to remain volatile and range-bound in the short term.

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary: Signals of Easing Trade Frictions Transmitted, Aluminum Prices May Remain in the Doldrums in the Short Term] On the macro front, the phone call between Chinese and U.S. leaders conveyed positive signals of easing trade frictions. If this can prompt the U.S. to revoke unfavorable measures, it will further improve the external environment for the aluminum market. Coupled with the European Central Bank's interest rate cut, which provides a relatively direct and clear positive stimulus for aluminum prices and offers additional support. Fundamentals side, the operating capacity of domestic electrolytic aluminum remains stable, with a slight expected decrease in subsequent casting ingot volumes. Domestic aluminum ingot inventory temporarily maintains a destocking trend. Cost side, the impact of the Guinea mine incident on alumina prices has eased somewhat, and the real-time cost of electrolytic aluminum has declined slightly MoM. On the demand side, there is dual pressure from domestic seasonal weakness and trade uncertainties. In the short term, the operating rate of domestic aluminum processing enterprises will be under pressure, with the off-season atmosphere becoming more pronounced. New orders in sectors such as building materials, PV, and automobiles are all showing signs of weakness. Overall, the current low inventory and the expectation of a higher proportion of liquid aluminum provide strong support for aluminum prices. However, the overall bearish macro environment during the week has caused aluminum prices to face downward pressure at high levels, and the off-season pressure on the demand side limits upside room. Spot aluminum in major consumption areas may soon face a situation of weak supply and demand, with aluminum prices likely to remain in the doldrums and consolidate in the short term.

In 2024, China's industrial aluminum extrusion sector witnessed sustained growth in applications across NEVs (with projected sales exceeding 12 million units), aerospace, and low-altitude economy. However, the industry faced multiple challenges including persistently high and volatile raw material prices, technological bottlenecks, international trade frictions, and the cancellation of export tax rebates. By 2025, the aluminum extrusion industry is embracing three major growth opportunities: the state-promoted "low-altitude economy" creating new application scenarios; the continued expansion of NEVs (2024 sales estimated over 12 million units) driving surging demand for aluminum components like motor housings and sill beams; and the accelerated relocation of the industry chain to overseas markets such as Southeast Asia and Mexico to circumvent trade barriers. These trends are reshaping the industry's growth landscape. Accordingly, SMM focuses on industrial development directions while collaborating with major associations and institutions across the industry chain to jointly launch the "2025 Global Industrial Aluminum Extrusion Procurement Guide." This time, Yuantai (Shanxi) Co., Ltd. will partner with SMM to co-produce this procurement map, jointly analyzing market trends and exploring the industry's future! Yuantai (Shanxi) Co., Ltd. , established in November 2020 as a foreign-invested enterprise with registered capital of $21.07 million and total investment of $50 million. Located in Xing County Economic Development Zone, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, the company leverages Chalco Huarun Aluminum's 99.85% high-grade liquid aluminum. It emphasizes R&D of new aluminum alloy materials and processes while providing technical services like failure analysis for customers. The company's professional R&D team utilizes advanced platforms including melting/casting units, refining/purification systems, and homogenization heat treatment furnaces to optimize designs, adjust alloy chemical compositions, and develop new production technologies. This enables timely delivery of premium aluminum alloy casting ingots, better serving market demands and supplying high-quality materials for 3C electronics, aerospace, 5G communications, and NEV sectors. Adhering to the philosophy of "technology creates value, integrity builds brands," the company closely monitors cutting-edge aluminum alloy technologies. It aims to break through fundamental metallurgical quality challenges in high-end casting ingots and industrialize key technologies, enhancing innovation and supply capabilities for advanced civil aluminum alloys to achieve rapid yet steady development. The company's main products include high-quality 2-series, 3-series, 4-series, 5-series, 6-series, and 7-series aluminum alloy cast bars, along with 2-series, 4-series, and 7-series aluminum alloy slab ingots. Slogan Technology Creates Value, Integrity Builds Brand Quality is Life, Service with Utmost Sincerity Contact Information Xingxian Economic and Technological Development Zone, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province Liao Chungui: 13771974218 Co-production Contact Person Zhou Shiyang Mobile: 17278238856 (same as WeChat ID) Email: zhoushiyang@smm.cn

On April 18th, at the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference & Aluminum Industry Expo - Industrial Aluminum Extrusion Forum , hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Promotion Service Co., Ltd., Man Ruiping, the head of product research and planning at Liaoning Xiangyu Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd., shared insights on how aluminum processing empowers the advancement of three-electric products and drives technological innovation. Equipment and Technological Advantages ►Introduction to Main Equipment - Melting and Casting Aluminum Melting and Casting: Several advanced foreign melting and casting production lines from companies such as Wagstaff in Canada and the US have been introduced. These lines can produce all grades of alloys from the 1-series to the 8-series according to different customer requirements. The furnaces are equipped with electromagnetic stirring devices to reduce the tendency of composition segregation and improve the uniformity of casting ingots. Casting of Bars: The maximum diameter of round aluminum alloy casting bars can reach 784mm. Online purification employs a three-rotor degassing system, combined with a multi-stage foam ceramic filtration system, to enhance the purity of the melt. Oil-air lubrication systems are used during casting to reduce the size of the segregation layer on the surface of the casting ingots and improve their surface quality. ►Introduction to Main Equipment - Mold Design and Manufacturing Mold Design and Manufacturing Center: It boasts the largest special industrial aluminum extrusion product mold design and manufacturing center in Asia. Mold flow analysis is applied to ensure the uniqueness of the process, while EDM and machining centers guarantee the continuity of production, enabling the customization of high-end industrial aluminum extrusion products for customers. ►Introduction to Main Equipment - Aluminum Extrusion, Heat Treatment, and Stretch Leveling Aluminum Extrusion, Heat Treatment, and Stretch Leveling: It can produce various complex large-section integrated aluminum extrusion products. The largest extrusion press has a capacity of 12,500T, covering fields such as automotive, rail, industrial, and military applications. A stretching force of 24MN can effectively stretch and level aluminum extrusions of various specifications and materials, meeting the production needs of large aluminum extrusions. Advanced 16.5-meter dry-well vertical quenching furnaces, as well as 16-meter, 24-meter, and 30-meter aging furnaces, are used, with precision reaching ±3℃. ►Introduction to Main Equipment - Deep Processing CNC Machining Center: Five-axis CNC machining equipment, with its unique multi-axis linkage structure and complex control system, demonstrates significant advantages in terms of machining accuracy, efficiency, surface finish, and flexibility, and is widely used in multiple high-end manufacturing fields. There are over 200 three-axis machining centers, including various models such as 1M, 1.6M, 3M, 5M, and special profile machines, to meet the diverse processing needs of automotive parts, rail car body parts, aviation equipment parts, and more.It boasts high-precision and efficient processing capabilities. Friction stir welding (FSW): The equipment is highly automated and mechanized, suitable for large-scale production, and has low requirements for the operating environment. It has broad application prospects in fields such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and shipbuilding. It introduced the R&D capabilities of the CNAS laboratory. Aluminization Scheme for Three Electric Products Introduction to Three Electric Systems The three electric systems refer to the power battery, drive motor, and electronic control system, which are the core components of NEVs and determine the vehicle's performance, driving range, and reliability. Battery System - Battery Pack Assembly Products Product Introduction: The battery tray product is used for passenger NEVs, serving as a carrier for modules or battery cells and providing safety protection. Its main body is assembled by welding profiles and is supplied in an assembled state. Product Advantages: The side beams and bottom plate adopt a multi-cavity cross-section, offering excellent resistance to extrusion, stone impact, and dropping. Advanced joining processes such as friction stir welding and laser welding are employed, resulting in minimal product deformation, high connection strength, and excellent sealing performance, fully meeting the sealing requirements of battery tray products. A complete set of tooling for battery tray products has been developed, significantly improving production efficiency. Battery System - Side Beam Products for Battery Packs Battery System - Bottom Plate Products for Battery Packs Product Introduction: Ultra-wide integrated extruded multi-cavity water-cooled plates leverage the company's advantage in large-section extrusion to increase the width of the bottom plate, reduce the number of friction stir welds, and achieve cost reduction. Using 6005A or 6061 alloy, the width can exceed 500mm. Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Solutions: Utilizing ultra-wide thin-walled sections with integrated forming; reducing the number of friction stir welds for high product strength; sample supply has been completed, with satisfactory customer feedback. It also elaborated on products such as side plates and end plates for battery modules, motor housing products for the drive motor system, and busbar products for the electronic control system within the battery system. In addition, it introduced the company profile, qualifications, and scientific and technological achievements of Liaoyang Xiangyu Aluminum. 》Click to view the special report on the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference & Aluminum Industry Expo

AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo is one of the most influential events in China's aluminum industry and will be grandly held at Suzhou International Expo Center from April 16-18, 2025 . This exhibition is not only an annual event for the aluminum industry but also serves as a high-quality platform that gathers global leading enterprises, experts, scholars, and industry elites, focusing on high-level dialogues, industrial exchanges, and product showcases. AICE 2025 focuses on the hot topics of global aluminum industry development, deeply delves into the cutting-edge technologies and trends of the industry, and showcases and exchanges the latest research achievements and practical experiences in upstream aluminum, aluminum rolling - aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil, aluminum extrusion - tubes, rods, wires, and profiles, recycling and die-casting, aluminum melting and casting equipment, and auxiliary materials . Click to Register At this Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo, Yuantai High-Conductivity Materials (Shanxi) Co., Ltd. will attend and exchange with the latest products and practical experiences, collaborating with industry peers to build an innovative, high-quality, efficient, and sustainable aluminum industry chain, promoting new leaps in the aluminum industry. AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo will discuss, build, and share with global elites, empowering the entire industry chain of aluminum. AICE 2025 will leverage the influence of the organizers to integrate the three key tracks of industry, academia, and research, stimulate innovation in the aluminum industry, and contribute to the industry's development and progress, playing its part in the prosperity and success of the aluminum industry. We look forward to meeting you on-site! Yuantai High-Conductivity Materials (Shanxi) Co., Ltd. Booth Number: E82 Technology Creates Value, Integrity Builds Brands Yuantai High-Conductivity Materials (Shanxi) Co., Ltd., established in November 2020, is a foreign-invested enterprise with a registered capital of $21.07 million and a total investment of $50 million. The company is located in the Xing County Economic and Technological Development Zone, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, relying on Chalco Huarun Aluminum's 99.85% high-quality liquid aluminum. It mainly produces high-quality 2-series, 3-series, 4-series, 5-series, 6-series, and 7-series aluminum alloy cast rods, as well as 2-series, 4-series, and 7-series aluminum alloy plate ingots. The company focuses on the research and development of new aluminum alloy materials and processes and provides customers with technical services such as failure analysis of aluminum alloy products. The company's professional R&D team can optimize design, adjust alloy chemical compositions, and develop new production preparation technologies based on customers' product performance and usage requirements, utilizing advanced melting and casting units, refining and purification, and homogenization heat treatment furnaces. This ensures timely provision of high-quality aluminum alloy cast ingot products, better serving market demands and providing high-grade aluminum alloy materials for 3C electronics, aerospace, 5G communications, and new energy vehicles. The company adheres to the business philosophy of "Technology Creates Value, Integrity Builds Brands," closely monitors and tracks the forefront technologies of new aluminum alloy materials, breaks through key common technologies and industrialization technologies for high-end aluminum alloy cast ingot metallurgical quality, enhances the innovation and market supply capabilities of high-end civil aluminum alloy materials, and achieves the rapid and steady development goals of Yuantai High-Conductivity Materials Co., Ltd.

AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Expo is one of the most influential events in China's aluminum industry and will be held grandly at Suzhou International Expo Center from April 16-18, 2025 . This exhibition is not only an annual event for the aluminum industry but also serves as a high-quality platform that gathers global leading enterprises, experts, scholars, and industry elites, focusing on high-level dialogues, industry exchanges, and product showcases. AICE 2025 focuses on the hot topics of global aluminum industry development, deeply delves into the cutting-edge technologies and trends of the industry, and showcases and exchanges the latest research achievements and practical experiences in upstream aluminum, aluminum rolling - aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil, aluminum extrusion - tubes, rods, wires, and profiles, recycling and die-casting, aluminum melting and casting equipment, and auxiliary materials . Click to Register AICE Aluminum Industry Expo At this year's Aluminum Industry Conference and Expo, Zhejiang Weihong Metal Products Co., Ltd. will attend and exchange with the latest products and practical experiences, working with industry peers to create an innovative, high-quality, efficient, and sustainable aluminum industry chain, promoting new leaps in the aluminum industry. AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Expo will discuss, build, and share with global elites, empowering the entire industry chain of aluminum. AICE 2025 will leverage the influence of the organizers to integrate the three key tracks of industry, academia, and research, stimulate innovation in the aluminum industry, and contribute to the industry's development and progress, playing its part in the prosperity and success of the aluminum industry. We look forward to meeting you on-site! Zhejiang Weihong Metal Products Co., Ltd. Booth Number: E34 Zhejiang Weihong, Expert in 7-Series Alloy Casting Zhejiang Weihong was founded in 2001 and is a professional industry chain service provider specializing in cast aluminum alloy ingots and series aluminum alloy round and flat ingots, guided by "circular economy and green ecology," integrating independent R&D and production. The group has a total designed capacity of 10,000 mt, based in Zhejiang and radiating nationwide. It has four manufacturing centers: Yongkang Hengda, Zhejiang Hengda (Quzhou), Zhejiang Weihong (Quzhou), and Dongyang Haoxiang. To fill the gap in high-end wrought aluminum alloy new material ingots in east China, the group established Zhejiang Weihong Metal Products Co., Ltd. The company covers a total area of 10,000 m² and has a top-tier technical management team. It has introduced industry-leading melting and casting units, precision sawing machines, battery mixing, online degassing, internal guide casting, homogenizing machines, and other production equipment, equipped with Spectro spectrometers, hydrogen testers, Leica microscopes, metallographic analyzers, and pressure testers. Focusing on the strategic positioning of "specialization, refinement, and high-end," it specializes in high-performance hard alloys and professional casting of series and series aluminum alloy round and flat ingots. These high-end aluminum semis are widely used in national defense, transportation, aerospace, electronics, and other fields. The company has successively passed certifications such as the Weapon Equipment Quality Management System and Energy Management System and actively promotes the R&D of high-end aluminum semis, obtaining multiple invention patents and utility model patents. Weihong always adheres to customer demand as the guide and technological innovation as the core, providing raw materials and systematic technical services to achieve mutual benefits! The "Annual Production of 30,000 mt of Military Aluminum Products" technological transformation project has been completed, deeply implementing intelligent and digital transformation, and developing new quality productive forces! Standing at the forefront of industry development, Zhejiang Weihong will continue to focus on lean quality management, strictly control quality with military standards, strive for new product development and joint development, and aim to become an expert in 7-series aluminum alloy casting for aviation! Zhejiang Weihong stands high, fully integrates industry chain resources, strengthens the construction of a learning-oriented corporate culture, drives upgrades with technological innovation and excellent management, ensures employee happiness, achieves customer success, benefits society, and realizes long-term business success! Corporate Development History In 2022, obtained the National High-Tech Enterprise Certificate. In 2022, obtained multiple Zhejiang Provincial Industrial New Product (New Technology) Appraisal (Acceptance) Certificates. In 2023, was designated as the "Quzhou Doctoral Innovation Station" by the Quzhou Science and Technology Association. Jointly developed 5XXX aviation rivets with the Northeastern University Materials Institute and IC52 flat ingots with the China Ordnance Industry Group/Ningbo 52nd Institute. In 2023, won the "Innovation Growth Star" award, and the general manager was awarded the title of "Chief Technology Officer"; multiple technical backbones were awarded the title of "Quzhou Craftsman" and "Star Craftsman in Industrial Manufacturing." In 2024, was awarded the "Vocational Skill Level Certification Institution" and designated as an "Off-Campus Training Base" by Zhejiang Changshan Technical School; multiple employees obtained the "Heavy Metallurgy Pyrometallurgy Worker" Senior Worker (Level 3) Certificate. In 2024, obtained the "Zhejiang Manufacturing" Certification Certificate. In 2024, participated in the formulation of the national standard "Inspection Method for Microstructure and Morphology of Wrought Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys by Scanning Electron Microscopy." Obtained 4 invention patents and 29 utility model patents. Effect of Al-Ti-B-Er on the Microstructure and Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Aluminum Alloy, Crystals 2024,14,695. (SCI Indexed) In 2024, was awarded the "Top 10 Chinese Remelting and Casting Enterprises."