US
Section 232 — aluminium import tariffs
Additional US duties apply to aluminium and certain aluminium products, regardless of origin. Rate and product coverage change, so check the current HTS code before comparing quotes.
Match your profile to MESH-verified extruders across China
Eight inputs decide which presses can actually quote your part.
Alloy / grade6063 · 6061 · 6082 · 6101
ProfileSolid, hollow, semi-hollow
Annual volumeTonnage and release pattern
ToolingNew die or existing die
FinishingAnodise · powder · PVDF
DownstreamCNC, welding, assembly
DestinationUS, EU or other market
Origin proofCountry-of-origin documents
Landed cost
The quote is not the price
Chinese extrusion often wins on ex-works price and loses at the border. What a US or EU buyer actually pays depends on duties that apply to Chinese aluminium specifically.
Is it cheaper to source aluminium extrusions from China?
China can often offer lower prices than other countries — but the factory price is not the only cost. Buyers also carry import duty, anti-dumping duty, freight and other border charges, and extrusions entering the US or EU can pick up duties that change the ranking completely. For destinations with little or no extra duty on Chinese aluminium, China is often the most competitive option available.
How the cost stacks
IllustrativeShipping to the USRelative landed cost
Ex-works priceFreight & handlingBase import dutySection 232AD/CVD ordersSection 301
Section 232, the 2011 AD/CVD orders and Section 301 can all apply to the same shipment.
Bar lengths show how cost layers stack, not actual rates. Duty rates vary by HTS or CN code, exporter and origin — verify them before comparing quotes.
US
AD/CVD orders — anti-dumping & countervailing
Orders on aluminium extrusions from China have been in force since 2011. They sit on top of ordinary import duty and are a separate charge from Section 232.
US
Section 301 — China tariffs
Additional tariffs can apply to goods imported from China depending on the HTS line. Confirm whether your extrusion, or a derivative of it, is on the current list.
EU
Anti-dumping duty on Chinese extrusions
The EU applies an anti-dumping duty to certain aluminium extrusions from China. The rate can differ by exporter, so one “China duty” figure is not safe to reuse across suppliers.
EU
CBAM — carbon border adjustment
Aluminium is covered by the EU carbon border levy. For EU-bound purchases, ask for embedded-emissions data during the RFQ, not after the order is placed.
In short
China's extrusion industry at a glance
China has the largest aluminium extrusion industry in the world, with suppliers running everything from mid-size commercial presses to some of the largest extrusion presses built. Common alloys include 6063, 6061 and 6082, with profiles made to GB/T standards domestically and to EN or ASTM standards for export. Many suppliers integrate machining, welding, finishing and assembly, so buyers can source finished components rather than bare profiles.
Already know what you need?
Tell us the profile, alloy, volume and destination. We come back with verified extruders — factory, not trader — whose presses and processes actually match it.
Submit your requirementCapability
How far Chinese extrusion capability goes
Standard capability is broad. The top end — very large presses, specialist alloys, full assembly — sits with a smaller group of suppliers.
| Capability | Commonly available | Available from selected suppliers |
|---|---|---|
| Press capacity | ~600–2,500 T | 5,000 T and above, including some of the world’s largest extrusion presses |
| Profile types | Solid, hollow, semi-hollow | Very large and complex multi-hollow sections |
| Common alloys | 6063, 6061, 6082, 6005A | 6101 electrical and aerospace-grade alloys from selected suppliers |
| Profile size | Supplier- and press-dependent | Very large circumscribing circles on large-tonnage presses |
| Standards / tolerances | GB/T 5237 (architectural), GB/T 6892 (industrial); EN 755, EN 12020 and ASTM B221 on request | Tighter tolerances by specification |
| Surface finishing | Mill finish, anodising, powder coating, electrophoretic | PVDF, wood-grain transfer and other specialty finishes |
| Downstream processing | Cutting, drilling, punching | CNC machining, bending, friction-stir welding and full assembly |
| Die development | Commonly 1–3 weeks from die approval | Expedited dies may be available |
| MOQ | Commonly ~500 kg per profile per run | Lower quantities via stock profiles or trading companies |
| Quality systems | ISO 9001 widely available | IATF 16949, ISO 14001, Qualicoat and the ASI Performance Standard, held by leading exporters |
Regions
Where China's extruders are
Capacity is concentrated, and each region leans toward a different kind of work.
Foshan–Nanhai, Guangdong
Largest concentration; architectural and general industrial profiles.
Pearl River Delta
Electronics enclosures, heat sinks and consumer products.
Shandong
Large integrated producers; industrial and transport profiles.
Liaoning
Very large presses; rail, heavy industrial and structural work.
Jiangsu–Zhejiang
Precision profiles, EV battery trays and automotive.
Fujian
Architectural and building-systems profiles.
Henan
Upstream aluminium and general industrial extrusion.
Tianjin–Hebei
Northern producers with northern port access.
Integration
Source finished components, not just profiles
China's real advantage is integration. Many extruders take a part from billet to assembly under one roof.
- 01Extrusion
- 02Cutting
- 03CNC machining
- 04Drilling / punching
- 05Bending
- 06Welding / FSW
- 07Surface finishing
- 08Assembly
Why it matters
One supplier instead of four means fewer handoffs, one quality owner and one freight movement. For a machined or welded part, that is often a bigger saving than the extrusion price itself.
What to confirm
Which steps are genuinely in-house, and which are subcontracted. Quality responsibility follows that line — and a subcontracted step is where a defect is hardest to trace.
Before you pay
Seven questions to ask before you pay a deposit
In China the hard questions are less about capability and more about who you are really dealing with — and what happens after you pay.
How do I evaluate an aluminium extrusion supplier in China?
Confirm it is the factory and not a trader. Identify the press that will run your profile. Secure die ownership and release terms. Verify billet certification. Protect the design with an NNN agreement. Document country of origin. Tie the final payment to an independent pre-shipment inspection.
Is this the factory, or a trading company?
If they say“We are the manufacturer.”
Ask forThe business-licence scope showing extrusion production, a factory address that matches it, and a live video walk of the press line. Trading companies are not automatically a problem — but you should know which one you are paying.
Which press will actually run my profile?
If they say“We have many large presses.”
Ask forThe specific press, its tonnage and container size, and which presses have hours free. Large plants often quote on one press and schedule the job on another.
Who owns the die, and can it leave China?
If they say“You own the tooling.”
Ask forWritten ownership, plus release terms if you move production. A die that cannot be shipped out is ownership on paper only.
Where does the billet come from?
If they say“High-quality aluminium.”
Ask forMill certificates with chemistry per heat, and whether the billet is primary or recycled. Alloy substitution is a quiet way a quote gets cheaper.
How is our design protected?
If they say“We signed your NDA.”
Ask forAn NNN agreement — non-use, non-disclosure, non-circumvention — drafted under Chinese law, in Chinese, and enforceable in China. A Western NDA alone protects very little there.
Can you document country of origin?
If they say“We can ship from anywhere you need.”
Ask forOrigin documentation for the extrusion. Treat any offer to route goods through a third country to avoid duties as a red flag — US customs enforces against transshipment.
Who inspects before shipment, and when do I pay?
If they say“Standard terms, 30/70.”
Ask forAn independent pre-shipment inspection, with the 70% balance released only after it passes. Once the balance is paid, your leverage has left port.
What buyers source
What buyers are sourcing from Chinese extruders
From standard sections to very large, complex profiles on the biggest presses.
Custom aluminium profiles
Bespoke sections from your drawing, often with the die ready inside three weeks.
Industrial sections
Machine-frame, conveyor and automation sections at high volume.
Tubes & hollow sections
Seamless and porthole tubes, including thin-wall stock.
Heat sink profiles
High-fin-ratio heat sinks for power and LED electronics.
Structural & large sections
Wide, heavy sections from large-tonnage presses.
Automotive & EV profiles
Battery trays, crash management and body-structure profiles.
Solar mounting profiles
Mounting rails and frames — one of China’s highest-volume extrusion categories.
Electrical profiles
Busbars and enclosures in 6101 conductive alloy.
Country comparison
Where China wins — and where it doesn't
China leads on depth and tooling speed. Whether it wins depends on where the parts are going.
| Factor | China | India | Vietnam | Mexico | USA | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative cost position (ex-works) | Low–mid | Low–mid | Low–mid | Mid | High | Mid |
| Press & supplier depth | Very deep | Broad | Growing | Moderate | Broad | Moderate |
| Tooling speed | Fast | Competitive | Competitive | Moderate | Moderate–slow | Moderate |
| US trade exposure | Section 232 + 2011 AD/CVD orders; Section 301 may also apply by HTS | Section 232; 2024 AD/CVD investigation ended negative, no new orders | Section 232 + origin documentation | USMCA treatment depends on production origin; Section 232 still applies | Domestic | Section 232 / US–EU treatment applies |
| EU trade exposure | EU anti-dumping duty on Chinese extrusions + CBAM | CBAM | CBAM | CBAM | Not normally preferred for EU supply | Intra-EU supply; CBAM generally not applicable to intra-EU movement |
| US transit | ~30–45 days* | ~25–40 days* | ~28–40 days* | ~2–5 days* | Domestic | Not normally preferred |
| EU transit | ~30–40 days* | ~20–30 days* | ~30–40 days* | Not normally preferred | Not normally preferred | ~2–4 days* |
| Best fit | Very high volumes, large or complex profiles, fast tooling | Custom tooling, competitive-cost volumes | China+1 diversification | US nearshoring | Domestic supply and replenishment | EU-destined production |
*Typical port-to-port ocean time. Door-to-door depends on routing, carrier and customs clearance — and Chinese New Year shutdowns can add two to four weeks.
Why source extrusion from China?
- The deepest press and supplier base in the world
- Fast die development and short changeovers
- Very large presses for oversized and complex profiles
- Integrated machining, welding, finishing and assembly
- Competitive where China-specific duties don’t apply
- Broad choice for programme-scale volumes
Industries we serve
Automotive & EV
Solar & renewable
Electrical & electronics
Industrial equipment
Construction
Transportation & rail
Consumer products
Defence & aerospace
Explore other suppliers
Browse verified manufacturing and extrusion suppliers by region, capability and process — not only in China.
Explore suppliersDirectories vs MESH
Marketplaces list thousands of Chinese extruders. Here's what they leave out.
Finding a Chinese aluminium profile factory takes minutes. Knowing whether it is really a factory — and what it will cost you landed — is the work.
A directory tells you
MESH tells you
A directory tells you“Aluminium profile manufacturer, Foshan”
Whether it is actually a factory or a trader, its press list, and which press your profile would run on
A directory tells you“ISO 9001 certified”
Whether the certificate is this plant’s or a group company’s, its scope and expiry, and what our engineer saw on site
A directory tells you“Custom dies available”
Written die ownership, and whether the die can be released if you move production
A directory tells you“Export experience”
Markets actually shipped to, origin documentation, and duty history into the US and EU
A directory tells you“Best price guaranteed”
The landed cost after China-specific duties — not the ex-works figure
The RFQ
Writing an RFQ a Chinese extruder can price properly
Leave out the standard or the destination and you'll get a GB/T price for the wrong market.
What should I include in an aluminium extrusion RFQ to China?
The profile drawing, alloy and temper, the tolerance standard, finish, annual volume and destination. State the standard explicitly — Chinese suppliers default to GB/T unless told otherwise — and state the destination, because it changes which duties apply.
1
Technical
- Profile drawing or DXF / STEP
- Alloy and temper
- Tolerance standard — EN, ASTM or GB/T
- Surface finish and coating thickness
- Cut length and tolerance
- Machining, welding or assembly required
2
Commercial
- Annual volume and order frequency
- First-order quantity
- Destination country and port
- Incoterm
- Packaging requirements
- Target start date
3
Compliance & tooling
- Die ownership and release terms
- Country-of-origin documentation
- Mill certificate for billet
- Required certifications
- Pre-shipment inspection
- CBAM data if EU-bound
The platform
Sourcing Chinese aluminium extrusion on MESH
Your first verified Chinese shortlist, without leaving the platform.
01
Log in
Use your company MESH Works login.
02
Open MESH Sourcing
Start a new sourcing request.
03
Type your requirement
Profile, alloy, volume, finish and destination market.
04
Select the suppliers
Choose from matched, verified Chinese extruders.
05
Connect
Message your shortlist and ask for quotes.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Yes, and they stack. Section 232 aluminium duties apply regardless of origin. On top of that, antidumping and countervailing duty orders on aluminium extrusions from China have been in force since 2011, and Section 301 tariffs cover many Chinese HTS lines. Rates and scope change, so confirm the current treatment for your specific HTS code before comparing a Chinese quote with any other.
The EU applies an anti-dumping duty to certain aluminium extrusions from China, in addition to the normal import duty. Aluminium also sits inside the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, so ask for embedded-emissions data with the quote. Confirm the CN code and whether your profile is inside the current anti-dumping scope before you treat a Chinese ex-works price as the landed price.
Ask for the business-licence scope that names extrusion production, a factory address that matches it, and a live video walk of the press line. Trading companies are not automatically a problem — many handle export well — but you should know who owns the press, the die and the quality record before you pay a deposit.
A standard profile commonly takes one to three weeks from die approval, and some plants will expedite that. Add trial extrusion and dimensional sign-off, then production and ocean transit of roughly 30–45 days to the US or 30–40 days to the EU. If the order crosses Chinese New Year, shutdowns can add two to four weeks.
Around 500 kg per profile per run is the figure most plants quote. Lower quantities are sometimes available through stock profiles or a trading company, and selected presses will take a smaller lot. MOQ is set by die-changeover time, so confirm it against your profile rather than a catalogue number.
6063, 6061, 6082 and 6005A are widely available. 6101 for electrical work, and aerospace-grade alloys, come from selected suppliers. Ask for a mill certificate with chemistry per heat, and whether the billet is primary or recycled — alloy substitution is a quiet way a quote gets cheaper.
Domestic work defaults to GB/T 5237 for architectural profiles and GB/T 6892 for industrial profiles. Export profiles can be made to EN 755, EN 12020 and ASTM B221, but only if the RFQ names the standard. If you leave it unstated, you will be quoted to GB/T.
A Western NDA on its own protects very little. Use an NNN agreement — non-use, non-disclosure and non-circumvention — drafted under Chinese law, in Chinese, and enforceable in China. Pair it with written die-ownership terms and a release clause if you later move production.
Yes. Many Chinese extruders cut, machine, drill, bend, friction-stir weld, finish and assemble under one roof or through named partners. Confirm which of those steps are genuinely in-house. Quality responsibility follows that line, and a subcontracted step is where a defect is hardest to trace.
A common term is 30% with the order and 70% before shipment. Tie the balance to an independent pre-shipment inspection and release it only after the inspection passes. Once the balance is paid and the goods have left port, your leverage has gone with them.