[SMM News Flash] According to reports, the casting machine line of the refined aluminum and high-purity aluminum project of Yulin New Materials Group, under Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group, successfully completed hot load testing and produced 20 mt of refined aluminum ingot, marking that the project now has full-process production capability from refined aluminum purification to casting and forming, and has taken a key step toward trial production and operation.

The "Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region National Economic and Social Development Plan 2026" proposes to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. It aims to improve the level of deep processing of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, and lithium, and expand the scale of high-end products such as high-purity aluminum, copper-based alloys, and advanced battery materials.

SMM May 19 News: Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. recently released its Q1 2025 performance report. According to the announcement, the company achieved a total revenue of 14.411 billion yuan in Q1, up 26.89% YoY. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm was 974 million yuan, down 16.26% YoY. Regarding the reasons for the company's revenue growth, Yunnan Aluminum stated that it was mainly due to the increase in sales volume and selling prices of aluminum commodities during the reporting period. Meanwhile, the operating costs increased by 33.38% YoY due to the rise in raw material prices and sales volume of aluminum commodities during the reporting period. From the perspective of futures prices, the main SHFE aluminum contract generally fluctuated upward in Q1. As of the close on March 31, 2025, the main SHFE aluminum contract closed at 20,480 yuan/mt, with a quarterly increase of 3.49%. In terms of spot prices, according to SMM spot quotes, the SMMA00 aluminum spot quotes also generally showed an upward trend in Q1. As of March 31, the average spot price of SMMA00 aluminum was reported at 20,560 yuan/mt, up 790 yuan/mt from 19,770 yuan/mt at the end of 2024, representing an increase of approximately 4%. 》Click to view SMM aluminum product spot quotes In late January, coinciding with the Chinese New Year holiday, the unexpected destocking of aluminum ingot inventory in the first two weeks drove aluminum prices to continue to climb, reaching a high of 20,550 yuan/mt during the session on January 20, a new high since December 2024. However, as downstream enterprises took holidays near the end of the year, weakening consumption exerted downward pressure on aluminum prices, which fluctuated downward under pressure. Nevertheless, aluminum prices generally showed an upward trend in January. In February, coinciding with the Chinese New Year holiday, aluminum ingot inventory buildup was slightly higher than the same period in history. However, as downstream enterprises gradually resumed production after the holiday, aluminum prices maintained highs in February despite being in the off-season. By March, the aluminum market entered the traditional peak consumption season, with downstream demand gradually recovering. Coupled with the installation rush stimulated by the new PV policies in the past 1-2 months, aluminum consumption increased, and social inventory showed a destocking trend. Meanwhile, downstream demand also continued to rebound, driving aluminum prices to hold up well in early March. However, in late March, due to poor macro sentiment overseas, funds exited for risk aversion, leading to a decline in the futures market. Nevertheless, from a quarterly perspective, aluminum prices still performed well in Q1. Turning to the current aluminum prices, according to SMM, the recent aluminum market has received support from improved macro environments both domestically and overseas, but bullish and bearish factors are intertwined. On the supply side, domestic aluminum capacity is approaching the ceiling, and the insufficient recovery of hydropower in Yunnan has exacerbated regional supply tightness, limiting the increase in aluminum ingot output. On the cost side, a sudden notice of production suspension was issued for mining areas in Guinea where mining licenses were revoked late last Friday, sparking market concerns about the supply of bauxite raw materials, which may push up alumina costs. However, the specific impact remains to be evaluated. The demand side is under dual pressures from domestic seasonal weakness and trade uncertainties, making significant growth in the short term unlikely. Inventories of aluminum ingots have fallen to a low level compared to the same period last year, and tight spot liquidity is supporting aluminum prices. Overall, favorable macro conditions provide a floor for aluminum prices, and low inventories further strengthen price resilience. However, off-season pressure on the demand side limits upside room. In the short term, attention should be paid to the performance of domestic and overseas demand, as well as the supply situation of bauxite. As of May 19, the spot quote for SMM A00 aluminum remained at 20,220-20,240 yuan/mt, with an average price of 20,230 yuan/mt. Yunnan Aluminum has also been striving to improve the self-sufficiency rate of bauxite. Previously, the company stated that it is enhancing the self-sufficiency rate through the following methods: First, based on current exploration results, bauxite in Yunnan Province is mainly concentrated in areas such as Wenshan and Zhaotong, and the company will increase its efforts in bauxite development in Yunnan Province. Second, focusing on countries in Southeast Asia such as Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, the company will accelerate the acquisition of exploration rights for bauxite resources in surrounding areas and resource exploration. Third, the company will expedite the processing of existing exploration-to-mining permits, ensure resource continuity, and safeguard the amount of ore available for mining. Public information shows that during the reporting period, Yunnan Aluminum was mainly engaged in the mining of bauxite, production and sales of alumina, green aluminum, aluminum processing, and carbon materials for aluminum production. Its main products include alumina, prebaked anodes for aluminum production, graphitised cathodes, aluminum ingots for remelting, refined aluminum ingots for remelting, round and flat casting ingots of wrought aluminum and aluminum alloys, cast aluminum alloy ingots, round aluminum rods for electrical purposes, aluminum and aluminum alloy welding materials, etc. Meanwhile, the company actively expands its circular economy businesses, including comprehensive utilization of secondary aluminum, solid waste resources from aluminum production, and aluminum ash. It is worth mentioning that according to the company's 2024 performance report, the company achieved a total revenue of 54.45 billion yuan in 2024, up 27.61% YoY, hitting a record high since its listing. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm was 4.412 billion yuan, up 11.52% YoY. The company mentioned in its annual report data that it currently has a production capacity of 1.4 million mt of alumina, 3.05 million mt of green aluminum, 1.6 million mt of aluminum alloys and aluminum processing products, and 820,000 mt of carbon products. Throughout 2024, the company actively sought to increase its electricity load, seized opportunities, and achieved rapid production resumptions in aluminum production. It promoted standardized production to enhance operational quality, achieving full coverage of standardized processes across the production lines of aluminum, alumina, and carbon products. The company achieved increased production and efficiency for its main products, producing 1.4088 million mt of alumina, 2.9383 million mt of primary aluminum, up 22.45% YoY, 805,800 mt of carbon products, up 2.85% YoY, and 1.2541 million mt of aluminum alloys and aluminum processing products, up 1.75% YoY. Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. was also asked about the impact of new technologies on the future of the aluminum industry. In response, Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. stated that in recent years, the aluminum smelting technology has developed rapidly, with significant breakthroughs in carbon-free anodes, inert anodes, high-end alloy rail transit, high-purity aluminum, 3C electronics, circular economy, and other areas. The impact on the future of the aluminum industry is mainly reflected in energy conservation and carbon reduction, energy efficiency improvement, cost reduction, industrial upgrading promotion, and green development facilitation. When mentioning the highlights of the company's future performance improvement, Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. indicated that in the future, the company will continue to leverage its comprehensive competitive advantages in the green and low-carbon entire industry chain, continuously optimize the value chain of the green aluminum industry, and further enhance the brand influence and market value of "Green Aluminum • At Yunnan Aluminum". It will strive to build a "benchmark for first-class green aluminum enterprises", reward investors with sound operating performance, and gradually increase the dividend payout ratio as the company's operating performance improves.

The magnitude of surface wetting tension is commonly referred to as the "dyne value," with its accurate term being the "surface tension coefficient." Ultra-thin aluminum foil is more prone to defects such as surface cross-grain and scratches during the rolling process, and it tends to have more surface oil than conventional products, leading to situations where the dyne value does not meet standards. Factors influencing defects include the strength of the rolling oil film, roll crown, roll roughness, and pass reduction rate. 5. Pinholes (numerous pinholes, prone to breakage) As the thickness of battery aluminum foil decreases from the commonly used 12μm-15μm to 9μm-10μm, the adverse effects of pinholes gradually become apparent. They may cause breakage during foil rolling production and during the rolling process of pole pieces, especially in the blank areas of the pole pieces. However, battery manufacturers not only do not lower their requirements for the number and diameter of pinholes due to the thinning of aluminum foil but instead demand higher standards. Theoretically, the fewer the pinholes and the smaller their diameter, the better. Pinholes (numerous pinholes, exceeding standards) Excessive localized dense pinholes can prevent normal slitting, affecting the yield of aluminum foil. Reducing pinhole defects (1) Quality control of raw materials: ① Strictly control the purity of aluminum ingots to reduce impurity content; ② Ensure the uniformity of batch alloy composition to avoid pinholes caused by composition segregation, phase aggregation, or local microstructure abnormalities; ③ Use effective refining and degassing processes during melting; ④ Employ superior filtration and purification devices to remove inclusions and oxide scales from the aluminum melt. The production of ultra-thin aluminum foil requires even stricter standards. (2) Stable rolling process: ① Reasonably control rolling speed to avoid surface cracks and pinholes caused by excessive speed; ② Optimize reduction to prevent uneven internal microstructure deformation and stress concentration, which can lead to pinholes; ③ Ensure roll quality and regular maintenance, selecting rolls with good surface quality and high precision to maintain surface smoothness and uniformity, reducing pinholes caused by roll defects. (3) Strengthen clean production: Implement reasonable clean production processes in casting (hot rolling), cold rolling, and foil rolling to ensure good mill and production environments. (4) Install online pinhole detection equipment to monitor pinholes on the aluminum foil surface in real-time, promptly identify and handle products with pinhole defects, and adjust production process parameters based on detection results. 6. Edge quality Ultra-thin aluminum foil is more prone to defects such as edge burrs, edge waves, edge scratches, and end-face aluminum powder during the slitting process. Factors influencing defects: equipment precision, slitting tool quality/lubrication/angle, aluminum foil flatness, and operator skill. Performance challenges of ultra-thin battery aluminum foil In terms of performance, mechanical property requirements are increasingly stringent, with current and proposed performance indicators. As battery foil thickness decreases, strength and toughness tend to decline, making it more brittle and prone to breakage, posing significant challenges in processing and usage. For example, during battery production processes such as coating and winding, ultra-thin battery foil must withstand certain tension and pressure. Insufficient performance can lead to issues like rupture and wrinkling. Poor mechanical properties can cause battery foil to easily break during use, affecting battery safety and stability. For instance, during battery charge and discharge cycles, the expansion and contraction of electrode materials may cause cracks in the battery foil, leading to internal short circuits and safety incidents. ► How to improve the performance indicators of ultra-thin aluminum foil? (1) Optimize the quality of raw and auxiliary materials: Select high-purity aluminum ingots and high-quality refining agents, additives, and intermediate alloys to avoid the impact of impurities on the performance of ultra-thin aluminum foil. (2) Optimize the ratio and content of alloy elements and add rare earth elements to improve the performance of ultra-thin aluminum foil. (3) Optimize heat treatment processes, precisely control annealing temperature, time, and cooling rate to achieve good comprehensive performance in aluminum foil. (4) Optimize rolling processes. Adopt multi-pass, small-reduction rolling methods to refine grains and improve the strength and toughness of aluminum foil. At the same time, control rolling speed and tension to avoid defects such as uneven thickness and surface scratches, enhancing surface quality and dimensional accuracy. Future predictions for ultra-thin battery aluminum foil The ultra-thin battery foil market is vast. In the future, the ultra-thin battery foil market will continue to grow. From a policy perspective, government support for the new energy industry continues to drive the development of new energy vehicles and energy storage, thereby boosting demand for ultra-thin battery foil. From a technological perspective, continuous innovation in battery technology, such as the development and commercialization of semi-solid, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries, imposes higher performance requirements on ultra-thin battery foil and presents new market opportunities. From a market perspective, increasing performance demands in consumer electronics, industrial, and energy storage sectors will drive sustained growth in demand for ultra-thin battery foil. Additionally, in the aerospace sector, extremely high battery performance requirements, including high energy density, lightweight, and high reliability, make ultra-thin battery foil essential for enhancing battery performance in aerospace equipment under extreme conditions. To improve the energy density and performance of lithium batteries, the trend of thinning battery aluminum foil will continue, and the ultra-thin battery foil market is vast. Structural shortages are prominent. High-end ultra-thin aluminum foil (e.g., 8μm products) faces supply shortages due to high technical barriers and low yield rates. By 2025, the demand for ultra-thin aluminum foil is expected to increase, but capacity is concentrated in a few enterprises, exacerbating market differentiation. Cost and process bottlenecks Cost and price factors: Low yield rates result in high scrap costs, which significantly impact product prices. As technology advances and production scales up, costs are expected to gradually decrease, further driving market demand. Meanwhile, fluctuations in aluminum prices will also affect the price of battery aluminum foil, influencing the supply-demand relationship. The production of ultra-thin aluminum foil relies on high-purity aluminum ingots and precision rolling technology. Raw material fluctuations and process stability directly affect capacity release. Top-tier enterprises need to increase R&D investment to break through technical bottlenecks and produce ultra-thin lithium battery aluminum foil that is thinner, stronger, more conductive, and has better surface quality. Small enterprises face significant survival pressure due to limited technical capabilities and insufficient capacity, putting them at a disadvantage in competition with larger firms. Finally, it provides an introduction to the company and its product specifications. 》Click to view the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo special report.

Currently, the price of magnesium metal has continued to pull back and is significantly lower than that of aluminum, making its cost-performance advantage reappear and its functional value prominent. The innovative development achievements of magnesium and magnesium alloys are increasingly growing, and innovative application cases of magnesium alloys are constantly emerging. They are expected to usher in new opportunities for expanded applications, especially in areas such as lightweight transportation, intelligent manufacturing, green construction, electronics and telecommunications, solid-state ESS, and medical health, where there is great potential to open up new application blue oceans. As a lightweight structural and functional material, magnesium metal will play an important role in promoting green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, demonstrating greater contributions. At this critical moment and important period, the 2025 Magnesium Industry Chain and Magnesium Market Forum will continue to be held. We will continue to fully leverage the platform's advantages, summarize the experience of previous events, enhance the promotion of this event, increase the participation of related industry chain enterprises, and strive to achieve greater results. SMM and Shang Magnesium Network cordially invite you to participate in the 2025 Magnesium Industry Chain and Magnesium Market Forum , which will be held from March 31 to April 2, 2025. Cross Ion (Hangzhou) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. will grandly attend this conference. We will synchronize with the times, aim at our goals, work diligently, and move forward with courage and determination! Click registration form to register for the conference immediately. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Cross Ion (Hangzhou) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. is currently the only zero-emission ionic liquid electroplating aluminum industrialisation company in China. It possesses full-process technology related to ionic liquid electroplating processes and equipment, has a professional R&D team, and currently operates one automated production line and two sample lines. The company is committed to developing hydrogen-free, high-corrosion-resistant, zero-emission ionic liquid electroplating processes and equipment. The core team members are from Zhejiang University and have long been dedicated to innovative development in surface technology for the aerospace field. The company focuses on providing environmentally friendly surface treatment new technology—ionic liquid electroplating of high-purity aluminum and hard aluminum alloy technology—for aerospace, national defense, military, and industrial and civilian 3C fields. Currently, the company's high-purity aluminum electroplating technology has been successfully applied to the corrosion protection of key high-strength fasteners in the engines of China's Long March 2F manned space rockets, with corrosion resistance exceeding 1,000 hours of neutral salt spray testing without white rust. Electroplating high-purity aluminum on the surface of cast aluminum alloy and anodising it results in higher quality oxide film, more aesthetically pleasing appearance, lower cost, and higher efficiency. This disrupts the existing high-quality anodising process that requires aerospace aluminum alloy profiles and CNC machining, truly achieving carbon reduction, green environmental protection, and energy efficiency. This technology achieves zero emissions of wastewater and exhaust gas during the electroplating process and has unique advantages in surface treatment of active material substrates such as rare earth permanent magnets and magnesium alloys, meeting the engineering requirements for high corrosion resistance protection. The company provides zero-emission ionic liquid electroplating aluminum processing services and automated electroplating aluminum production lines, enabling high-purity electroplating of aluminum on various substrates (magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy, high-strength steel, rare earth permanent magnets, connectors, cast aluminum alloy, etc.). Main products: The company provides zero-emission ionic liquid electroplating aluminum processing services and automated electroplating aluminum production lines, enabling high-purity electroplating of aluminum on various substrates (magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy, high-strength steel, rare earth permanent magnets, connectors, cast aluminum alloy, etc.). Magnesium Industry Company Business Connection Registration for the 2025 Magnesium Industry Chain and Magnesium Market Forum is now open Please contact: 13162929454 (Jiaxin Lu)

[Kazakhstan KAS Aluminum Smelter's Cumulative Production Exceeds 4 Million mt] Since its commissioning, the Kazakhstan Aluminium Smelter (KAS), a subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), has achieved a cumulative primary aluminum production exceeding 4 million mt. In 2024, KAS improved the efficiency of its electrolytic process and set a new production record. Currently, its annual capacity stands at 264,500 mt. In the future, ERG is expected to expand the second module and develop high value-added products such as aluminum foil and rolled aluminum. KAS is the only LME-certified producer of high-purity aluminum in Kazakhstan, with products exported to over 20 countries across the CIS, Europe, and Asia.