Blog
NEWS
In 2025, China’s recycled aluminum production reached 12.18 million tons.
2026-03-04
In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments jointly issued the “Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth in the Nonferrous Metals Industry (2025–2026),” which, for the first time, set a clear target: by 2026, recycled metal production will exceed 20 million tons. As one of the core categories within recycled metals, recycled aluminum is expected to shoulder a significant share of this growth. Furthermore, the “Implementation Plan for High-Quality Development of the Aluminum Industry (2025–2027)” outlines a medium‑to‑long‑term goal of achieving over 15 million tons of recycled aluminum production by 2027. Based on an average annual growth rate, recycled aluminum output would need to reach at least 13 million tons by 2026 to support the realization of the 2027 target. These policy documents thus establish a clear minimum threshold for recycled aluminum production in 2026.
Based on historical production data, China’s recycled aluminum output has been steadily increasing from 2021 to 2024. According to ALD statistics, China produced 8.3 million tonnes of recycled aluminum in 2021, 8.72 million tonnes in 2022, 9.62 million tonnes in 2023, and 10.80 million tonnes in 2024. Furthermore, recycled aluminum production is projected to reach 12.18 million tonnes in 2025, with an average annual compound growth rate exceeding 7% over the past five years. By the end of 2025, China’s installed capacity for recycled aluminum will surpass 33 million tonnes, with additional planned capacity exceeding 24 million tonnes.
By the end of 2026, newly commissioned capacity is expected to range between 3 and 5 million tonnes, bringing total installed capacity to over 35 million tonnes. Meanwhile, as the “dual carbon” goals gain momentum, the trend toward lightweighting in new‑energy vehicles is accelerating. Thanks to its lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions, recycled aluminum has become the material of choice for automotive components. In addition, demand for recycled aluminum in sectors such as photovoltaic frames and energy‑storage systems is also growing rapidly, further boosting production. Intensified competition within the recycled‑aluminum industry is likely to prompt more companies to exit or shift their business models by 2026 or 2027, significantly increasing industry concentration. China’s recycled‑aluminum output is projected to exceed 13.5 million tonnes by 2026.
Phone:
Email:
Address:
26F, PlCC Building, No. 24, Business Outer Ring Rd, Zhengdong
New District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
Copyright © Henan KEDANEU International Engineering Co.,Ltd.