[SMM Analysis]China's Aluminum Wire Exports Surge 13% in March, Driven by Global Demand and Price Spread

April 21,  2026:  

Customs data showed that China's aluminum wire exports totaled 26,350 mt in March 2026, up 13 percentage points MoM and 16.64 percentage points YoY. In terms of export product structure, exports of aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) cable reached 18,300 mt in March, accounting for 69.64%, while exports of other non-insulated stranded aluminum wire totaled 8,000 mt, accounting for 30.36%. From January to March, China's total aluminum wire exports reached 79,600 mt, up 29.5 percentage points YoY. (HS codes: 76141000, 76149000)

By export destination, the top destination for aluminum wire and cable exports in March 2026 was Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, with exports totaling 6,330 mt, accounting for 24% of March exports. Although Middle East tensions have escalated since March and the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, enterprises can opt to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and reach ports through the Red Sea for domestic shipment, so the impact on orders has been relatively limited. The second-largest export destination was Tanzania in Africa, where steady release of local power grid project demand provided support for China's exports. In addition, based on last year's data, Middle East orders accounted for 10.4% of total exports, and given the availability of alternative shipping routes, the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on export destinations was relatively limited, with minimal effect on domestic orders.

By province, China's aluminum wire export landscape remained stable. Jiangsu Province continued to rank first, with March exports of 13,459 mt, accounting for 51% of total exports, up 13.2 percentage points MoM. Henan Province ranked second with exports of 3,940 mt, accounting for 15% of total exports, up 16.6% MoM. Xinjiang achieved a MoM increase of 560.2%, with exports of 3,822 mt, ranking third.

Overall, China's aluminum wire exports continued the high-volume trend in March 2026. Regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia demonstrated steady demand release driven by power grid construction project progress, injecting growth momentum into China's aluminum wire exports in 2026. Meanwhile, aluminum production cuts outside China further widened the price spread between domestic and overseas markets, and subsequent exports are expected to demonstrate strong sustainability. In addition, as China's aluminum wire still enjoys export tax rebates, the resulting profit spread has led to emerging demand for re-melting exported stranded aluminum wire into aluminum ingots, further boosting China's aluminum wire exports. Based on optimistic expectations for overseas demand, coupled with order transmission lead times, China's aluminum wire exports in April–May are expected to approach or surpass the five-year high for single-month exports.