Up 47.2% MoM! China's Aluminum Wire and Cable Exports Continued to Grow in March [SMM Analysis]

April 27, 2025—

According to customs data, China's aluminum wire and cable exports reached 22,500 mt in March 2025, up 47.2% MoM and surging 59.9% YoY. From January to March, cumulative exports totaled 61,500 mt, up 19% compared to 51,600 mt during the same period in 2024 (HS codes: 76141000, 76149000). Notably, the single-month YoY growth rate exceeded the quarterly overall growth rate by 40 percentage points. This was attributed to the combination of growing overseas demand, domestic enterprises resuming operations, and a rebound in exports during the domestic off-season.

In terms of product structure, steel-core aluminum stranded wire (accounting for 51%) recorded exports of 11,500 mt, up 4% MoM and showing a robust YoY growth of 40%, reflecting resilient demand in traditional power infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, aluminum stranded wire (accounting for 49%) saw exports of 11,000 mt, skyrocketing 158% MoM and surging 87% YoY, indicating significant growth in new energy orders from other countries.

Regarding export destinations, in March 2025, China's wire and cable exports reached 93 countries. African regions performed notably well, with Tunisia at 1,937.046 mt, Ghana at 1,781.23 mt, and Egypt at 762.348 mt, reflecting rising cable demand driven by infrastructure construction. In South America, Bolivia recorded exports of 1,368.39 mt, and Paraguay 724.146 mt, showing potential for market expansion. In Southeast Asia, Cambodia registered 787.112 mt, and the Philippines 697.295 mt, indicating growth potential in demand.

By registration location, China's wire and cable exports in March 2025 showed significant regional disparities. Jiangsu Province led with 8,919.8 mt, accounting for 39.5%, showcasing strong industrial capabilities with advantages in supporting facilities, technology, and channels. Henan Province followed with exports of 4,756.8 mt, accounting for 21.1%. Provinces like Jiangxi and Hebei had moderate export volumes, while Hainan and Gansu recorded near-zero exports, and Anhui and Yunnan had minimal volumes, constrained by industrial layout factors. This highlights the uneven distribution of wire and cable exports among provinces, with leading provinces dominating.

SMM Commentary: With domestic enterprises fully resuming operations and the concentrated delivery date for power grid construction approaching, some capacity may shift to the domestic market. Export growth in Q2 is expected to stabilize at a high level. Structurally, the 87% YoY surge in aluminum stranded wire exports confirms the increasing demand for lightweight cables in global PV projects. SMM forecasts that, under the backdrop of steady global power grid project demand and the trend of replacing copper with aluminum, China's aluminum wire and cable exports in 2025 are likely to stabilize around 200,000 mt, with efforts to test the 250,000 mt threshold.