China's aluminum tube export sector reached a historic milestone in 2025. According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, the country exported $496 million worth of aluminum pipes during the year, maintaining its position as the world's largest exporter with a 20.4% share of global exports. The global high-aluminum tube market reached approximately $21.87 billion in 2025, growing 8.3% year-over-year. North America and the EU market accounted for 18.5% and 14.9% of global demand respectively, with growth rates of 6.1% and 5.8%.
European demand, in particular, is undergoing a geographic reshuffling. While U.S. shipments from the EU fell nearly 25% between January and May 2025 due to protective trade measures, Norway's imports from the EU surged 250% to 1,619 tonnes during the same period, driven by offshore wind, green shipping, and EV infrastructure. Turkey also reinforced its position, absorbing nearly 1,500 tonnes. The EU aluminum tube market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.2% in volume through 2035.
This export surge is reshaping production equipment demand. Roll forming machines—the core technology for converting flat aluminum coils into tubular shapes—are seeing accelerated investment. The global roll forming machines market is forecast to grow by $228.9 million through 2029 at a CAGR of 4.6%. Over the past decade, demand for lightweight, high-strength materials has driven investment in roll forming solutions capable of processing aluminum with minimal waste.
The steel tube mill machine segment is also adapting. These production systems, traditionally configured for ferrous materials, are increasingly specified for aluminum processing. Modern tube mills integrate forming, welding, and finishing stages with tailored technologies for aluminum. Operators now focus on three core areas: steel tube mill machine setup, aluminum material handling, and integration with roll forming machine systems.
As North American and European markets continue their structural shift toward lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials, China's aluminum tube exports—and the production equipment that enables them—are positioned for sustained growth through the next decade.
