ALUMINUM POWDER MARKET ANALYSIS

The price volatility of raw materials is significantly restraining the growth of the aluminum powder market. Aluminum powder is primarily manufactured using aluminum ingots as the key raw material. However, the prices of aluminum ingots have witnessed substantial fluctuations over the past few years. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the average price of primary aluminum ingots in the international market increased from US$ 1,608 per metric ton in 2020 to US$ 2,400 per metric ton in 2022. Such sharp rises in input costs leave very little room for manufacturers to maintain stable selling prices of aluminum powder.

Market Opportunities: Emerging applications in additive manufacturing

Emerging applications of additive manufacturing present a great opportunity for growth in the aluminum powder market. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, allows for complex geometric structures to be produced from digital designs with little waste of raw materials. This technology is opening new doors for using aluminum powder to produce functional metal parts with greater design flexibility compared to traditional manufacturing methods.  As additive manufacturing continues to advance, more industries are adopting the technology to benefit from its advantages. The aerospace industry has been at the forefront of using 3D printing with aluminum powder for lightweight structural components and engine parts.