As the world's largest producer and consumer of air conditioners, the China accelerates a significant change in materials – switching from copper to aluminum
Some of the biggest names in the industry are supporting this transition, as the Xiaomi, Gree, Midea, Haier, Hisense, TCL, AUX and several other manufacturers have already signed a self-regulatory agreement aimed at promoting ewider adoption of aluminum in air conditioning systems, while helping to stabilize the supply chain of this billion-dollar industry.
A push towards new standards
According to reports, these companies are actively participating in the revision of the national standard «Heat exchangers for room air conditioners». A new round of formal discussion meetings is expected to take place on January of 2026, signaling that official guidelines for aluminum-based solutions are getting closer to reality.
The agreement was announced in the context of Research Group for the Application of Improving Aluminum Air Conditioning. Participating companies committed to avoiding unfair competition, refraining from exaggeration or false marketing, and promoting aluminum heat exchanger technology in a scientific and transparent manner. The goal is to build consumer confidence while encouraging healthier competition in the industry.
Why does aluminum matter?
Household air conditioners have traditionally relied heavily on copper, especially in key components such as condensers and evaporators. In 2023 alone, China's domestic air conditioner industry consumed approximately 1.723 million tons of copper, representing 10.7% of the country's total copper use — with approximately 80% of this consumption coming from imports.
On the contrary, China dominates global aluminum production, representing approximately 60% of global electrolytic aluminum productionThis makes aluminum a safer and more scalable alternative for long-term construction needs.
It has already been implemented in other markets
The aluminum heat exchangers is not a new idea. They are already widely used in car air conditioning systems and refrigerators. The Japanese manufacturer Daikin, for example, had replaced more than 50% of the copper used in its air conditioners with aluminum by 2024.
With major Chinese brands – including Xiaomi – now in line with standards, aluminum-based air conditioning technology looks set to move from an alternative option to a mainstream solution in the coming years.
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