1. Booming Demand for Precision Castings Driven by New Energy Vehicles
In May 2026, most domestic copper and aluminum foundries were fully booked with orders.
Leading copper processors have received orders for high-voltage electromagnetic flat wires and motor housing copper castings for new energy vehicles stretching into the second half of 2027.
Leading manufacturers of integrated die-cast aluminum castings (battery trays and vehicle structural parts) have locked in long-term orders up to 2030.
Each pure electric vehicle uses 240~450 kg of aluminum castings and 80~120 kg of copper castings.
The annual domestic demand for copper castings for new energy vehicles is estimated at 1.84 million tons in 2026, and will exceed 2 million tons in 2027.
Dongfeng’s 16,000-ton super-large integrated die-casting production line has started mass production of battery housings.
Major die-casting enterprises including Hongtu, Wenshan and Tuopu have launched large-scale aluminum die-casting production lines, boosting capacity expansion for high-strength aluminum alloy castings.
2. AI Computing Power and UHV Infrastructure Expand Application Scenarios for Castings
Demand for heat-dissipating copper castings and cabinet aluminum alloy structural parts for AI servers is growing rapidly.
A single large data center consumes more than 1,000 tons of copper castings.
The construction of UHV power grids is accelerating.
A 672-million-yuan UHV aluminum alloy casting project was launched in Weifang, Shandong.
It will produce 42,000 tons of high-voltage power transmission and transformation aluminum castings annually (20,000 tons of housings + 22,000 tons of conductors), with 515 new sets of dedicated low-pressure casting and melting equipment.
The 48-month construction period focuses on mass production of high-precision aluminum castings for power grids.
