With Copper Prices Continuing To Rise, Which Industries Will Prioritize Replacing Copper Products with Aluminum Tube And Fin Heat Exchangers?

With copper prices continuing to rise, which industries will prioritize replacing copper products with aluminum tube and fin heat exchangers?

In the context of rising copper prices, industries with high cost sensitivity and heat exchange requirements that do not involve extreme operating conditions will prioritize replacing copper products with aluminum tube and fin heat exchangers. These primarily include:

Home Air Conditioning Industry: Air conditioners are mass-produced products where raw material costs account for a significant portion (approximately 50%-60%). Rising copper prices directly increase overall unit costs. Leading manufacturers have progressively replaced indoor evaporators and some outdoor condenser units with aluminum tube and fin structures, reducing costs without compromising user experience.

Small Appliance Industry: Products like air fryers, dehumidifiers, and mini-refrigerators feature low unit prices and cost-sensitive consumers. With modest heat exchange requirements, aluminum tube-fin heat exchangers fully meet performance needs, offering significant substitution potential.

Commercial Cold Chain Industry: Applications like convenience store refrigerators and small cold storage units typically operate within a heat exchange temperature range of -30°C to 50°C. These environments do not require extreme high temperatures or highly corrosive conditions. Aluminum tube-fin heat exchangers offer suitable weather resistance and heat transfer efficiency, while also reducing the initial investment costs for cold chain equipment.