Green manufacturing drives the upgrading of metal materials

With the increase in global infrastructure investment and the rapid development of the new energy industry, Metal materials such as Galvanized Steel, Prepainted Steel, Galvalume Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum Coil and Nickel Strip are experiencing a new round of peak market demand. Industry experts predict that the global market size of these key materials will maintain a growth rate of 6% to 8% in 2024.

Analysis of Industry Hotspots：
The demand for galvanized steel is stable
Benefiting from the recovery of the global construction industry, galvanized steel is in high demand in fields such as roofing and steel structures due to its excellent anti-corrosion performance. The Southeast Asian market stands out particularly. Infrastructure projects in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have driven a 15% year-on-year increase in imports.

The application scenarios of color-coated steel sheets have been expanded
Color-coated steel sheets, with their rich color options and weather resistance, are penetrating from traditional building envelope systems into the fields of home appliances and decoration. Leading domestic enterprises have launched anti-UV aging coating technology, extending the product life to over 20 years.

Aluminized zinc steel is the preferred choice for photovoltaic brackets
In the field of new energy, aluminized zinc steel has become the core material of photovoltaic bracket systems due to the heat resistance of its 55% aluminized zinc alloy coating. The global photovoltaic installed capacity is expected to exceed 400GW in 2024, which will further boost demand.

The trend of high-end stainless steel is obvious
With the increase in investment in hydrogen energy equipment and chemical projects, the demand for high-end stainless steels such as 316L has soared. Due to the accelerated energy transition in the European market, the purchase volume of acid-resistant stainless steel pipes rose by 22% year-on-year.

Aluminum coils benefit from automotive lightweighting
The demand for lightweighting in new energy vehicles has driven the aluminum coil market to explode. The thickness accuracy requirement for aluminum materials used in battery shells has reached ±0.01mm. The aluminum usage in the battery pack of Tesla's latest Model 3 has increased by 30%, driving the upgrading of the supply chain.

Nickel strips have become strategic materials in the battery industry
There is a structural shortage of nickel strips for battery tabs, and leading enterprises are now laying out mass production technology for 6μm ultra-thin nickel strips. Due to the export policy of nickel ore in Indonesia, the nickel price fluctuated more intensely in the second quarter of 2024, and downstream enterprises accelerated the signing of long-term agreements.

Sustainable development has become the focus of the industry
Under the background of carbon neutrality, the metal materials industry is presenting three major transformation trends:

The galvanizing/aluminized zinc production line is upgraded to a chromium-free passivation process
The recycling rate of stainless steel scrap has been raised to over 92%
Carbon footprint certification for aluminum coils used in photovoltaics has become a necessary condition for export to the European Union

Expert Opinion：
Over the next three years, metal composite materials with both weather resistance and recyclability will dominate the market, noted the chief analyst of the Global Metal Institute. In particular, composite sheets of aluminized zinc steel and recycled aluminum have great potential in the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors.

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