Global Aluminium Shortage – Are there alternatives?

Thousands of products are threatened by a global aluminium shortage. One of the key components in aluminium alloys is magnesium. These alloys are used in everything from car parts to building materials and food packaging.

Magnesium stocks have been particularly affected by the lack of supplies from China, which has a near monopoly on the magnesium market. China has reduced the output of magnesium as part of the efforts to reduce its power consumption.

What makes the shortage a pressing issue is that there are no substitutes for magnesium in aluminium alloy production.

The shortages also are leading to the price of aluminium increasing dramatically, reaching a decade high as reported in the Financial Times.

Not everything made from aluminium can be replaced by alternative materials.

However, some products can be replaced with alternatives. Such as ladders, handrails, walkways, roof access walkways. Equivalent products can be produced from fibreglass reinforced polymer (FRP) structural profiles and grating.