the World market for aluminum products for the automotive industry could exceed $ 250 billion per year, assuming annual production of approximately 80 million plug-in electric vehicles. This was told in the canadian metallurgical company Linamar.
Until recently, it was assumed that the consumption of aluminium in electric vehicles was rejected in favor of cheaper high-strength steel, the production of which is more environmentally friendly than the production of aluminum components.
However, aluminum is significantly lighter than steel, is currently the preferred metal in a number of parts from chassis, structural components such as the absorber and the interior panels to engines and batteries in electric cars.
However, access to the opportunities provided by aluminum, has its price.
aluminum Prices, as a rule, about three times higher than for steel. But the industry is ready to accept the price difference because of the huge scale of the potential sales, says Paul Wharton, President of the French company Constellium automotive structures and industry business.
"in addition to lighter weight, aluminum better protects the passengers and vehicle in an emergency situation, management system accidents absorb the generated energy," he said.
basic assessment Wood Mackenzie demand for aluminium for electric vehicles is 2.4 million tons in 2025, accounting for 3.3% of the total primary demand and almost twice that this year.
In 2040, analysts expect that demand will amount to 9.4 million tonnes or 12% of the total aluminium consumption.
"Big game automotive sheet used for body panels and structures", - says the analyst of Wood Mackenzie Julian kettle. "The problem with the car sheet is that he mainly uses primary aluminium, since each automaker has its own specifications".
If the trend to replace steel with aluminum to survive, aluminium producers such as Rusal, Rio Tinto and Glencore, have access to a lot of metal, will have a significant benefit.
Steel company supplying products to the automotive industry, the largest of which are Tata Steel, ArceloMittal, Nippon Steel, Posco and Nucor, you can lose a portion of their profits.
