In May 2026, the overseas trade of the global aluminum profile door and window industry continues to heat up. The tight aluminum supply and high prices caused by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East are still spreading. Supported by a wave of professional international exhibitions held in Egypt and Southeast Asia, Chinese aluminum door and window enterprises are making comprehensive efforts in order structure adjustment, market layout and compliance upgrading. Growth in emerging markets and responses to trade barriers have become the core focus for the industry’s global expansion.
On the raw material side, the impact of shipping controls in the Strait of Hormuz and production halts at Middle Eastern aluminum smelters continues to unfold. LME aluminum prices remain above 3,500 US dollars per ton. Local overseas door and window manufacturers face soaring cost pressure and longer delivery cycles, prompting the global aluminum profile supply gap to shift steadily toward China. Customs data shows that China’s aluminum profile exports rose 18% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with outstanding contributions from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Affected by logistics disruptions in the Middle East in March, exports fell 24.8% month-on-month; nevertheless, markets such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Nigeria showed strong demand resilience and became key order destinations.
In terms of market expansion, international exhibitions have become a core channel for acquiring new orders. From May 7 to 9, the 16th Egypt International Glass, Door, Window and Aluminum Exhibition was held in Cairo, gathering over a hundred global industry participants. Chinese enterprises showcased thermal-break system windows and high weather-resistant profiles, precisely catering to infrastructure and real estate recovery demand across the Middle East and North Africa. Meanwhile, driven by the RCEP agreement, the Southeast Asian market maintains steady growth, with orders for typhoon-resistant energy-saving windows surging more than 30% year-on-year. Vietnam and Malaysia are further consolidating their roles as key hubs for transit trade and overseas assembly.
Trade barriers and compliance standards continue to tighten. The EU CBAM carbon tariff policy, together with Australia’s anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese aluminum doors and windows under HS code 7610.10.00.12, are pushing manufacturers to accelerate low-carbon production upgrades, recycled aluminum adoption and international certification procedures. Many companies are also speeding up overseas localization arrangements. By adopting the model of semi-finished products from China plus deep processing overseas, they have built assembly bases in Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico, effectively avoiding trade barriers and improving local delivery efficiency.
Industry insiders pointed out that global aluminum prices will stay volatile at high levels in the second quarter amid complex geopolitical situations. China’s aluminum door and window industry should adhere to high-end product upgrading, diversified market layout and international compliance standards. Leveraging its complete industrial chain and stable production capacity, China will further consolidate its share in the global high-end building materials market and accelerate the industry’s transformation from product export to brand and standard export.