China's aluminium wire exports drop 8.53% M-o-M in July 2026, Up 481.79% Y-o-Y

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Data shows that in July 2026, China's aluminium wire exports totalled 102,800 tonnes, down 8.53 per cent M-o-M and up 481.79 per cent Y-o-Y. From January to July 2026, China's aluminium wire exports reached 386,300 tonnes, up 152.78 percentage points Y-o-Y.

Among them, exports of other non-insulated aluminium  stranded wire, cable, braid and similar articles totalled 84,600 tonnes, down 12.23 per cent M-o-M, accounting for 82.29 per cent of total exports; exports of non-insulated steel-cored aluminium  stranded wire, cable, braid and similar articles totalled 18,200 tonnes, up 13.72 percentage points M-o-M, accounting for 17.71 per cent.

Pure aluminium stranded wire (HS code 76149000): exports of 84,500 tonnes, down slightly M-o-M. For HS code 76149000 (aluminium stranded wire, without steel core), July exports totalled 84,598 tonnes, down 12.2 percentage points M-o-M, a decrease of 11,787 tonnes from 96,385 tonnes in June.

The share of pure aluminium  stranded wire in total exports pulled back to 82.3 per cent from 85.8 per cent in June, but has remained above 80 per cent for the fourth consecutive month, indicating that the backlog orders locked in during the export profit window are still being released.

The pure aluminium stranded wire was exported to 81 countries and regions. The top 15 destinations accounted for 80,546 tonnes, or 95.2 per cent of total exports. Compared to June, the top 15 pattern underwent a clear reshuffle: major former markets such as South Korea, Vietnam, and Japan saw significant pullbacks, while destinations like Montenegro, Malaysia, and Thailand grew countertrend or entered the list.

Steel-cored aluminium stranded wire (HS code 76141000): monthly exports of 18,000 tonnes. In July, steel-cored aluminium stranded wire was exported to 56 countries and regions, with export concentration declining compared to June: the top ten countries accounted for 13,914 tonnes, or 76.4 per cent of total exports (89.8 per cent in June).

Although Saudi Arabia still ranked first with 4,190 tonnes (23.0 per cent share), it fell 22.0 per cent M-o-M, as the concentrated delivery peak of Middle East power grid projects passed. Four countries—Greece, Nigeria, Egypt, and Niger—newly entered the top ten, indicating a diversification of export destinations. The export of ACSR has shown a structural adjustment feature: the Middle East is retreating while Europe and Africa are filling the gap.

Saudi Arabia was down 22.0 per cent M-o-M but still accounted for a 23.0 per cent share, as the delivery peak for Middle East power grid expansion projects has neared its end. Finland surged 122.2 per cent M-o-M to 1,102 tonnes, sustaining the purchasing heat for ACSR in the Nordic market; Greece entered the ranking for the first time with 1,089 tonnes, echoing Montenegro's surge in all-aluminium  conductor, reflecting the overall demand for aluminium  wire and cable from infrastructure projects in the Balkan and Southeast Europe region.

Three African countries—Nigeria (708 tonnes), Egypt (687 tonnes), and Niger (526 tonnes)—newly entered the top 10, indicating that demand for ACSR from African power grid construction is being released.

SMM comment: Overall, the pullback in exports in July confirmed the direction of "high-level adjustment," but since August, the SHFE/LME aluminium  price ratio has shown signs of a slight recovery, and the price spread window between Chinese and overseas markets has opened somewhat, providing new profit margins for ACSR exports. Coupled with some remaining volumes of earlier locked-in orders to be delivered, ACSR exports in August are expected to be more resilient than previously forecast, and the pullback may narrow further.

Based on the cumulative 386,200 tonnes from January to July, combined with the new development of a slightly wider price spread between Chinese and overseas markets in August, H2 exports will feature a pattern of "slow pullback → support at the bottom." Full-year exports are expected to total 530,000-580,000 tonnes, a significant increase from 2025. Going forward, close attention should be paid to the price spread trend in August and the signing of new orders to verify the sustainability of export resilience.

Note: This article has been issued by SMM and has been published by AL Circle with its original information without any modifications or edits to the core subject/data.