October 9, 2026 · Aluminum Alloy
Aluminum Tube Supplier in China: 6061 vs 6063 Price and Ordering Guide 2026
An aluminum tube supplier is only worth your container slot when the price per ton, the alloy and the wall tolerance still hold after the truck leaves. In mid 2026 Chinese 6063-T5 tube runs about $2,600 to $3,300 per ton FOB and 6061-T6 about $3,100 to $3,900. Standard sizes ship in 7 to 15 days. Here is how to order without paying for surprises.
I quote aluminum tube and plate to importers in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Almost every first order comes with the same two questions. Is 6061 worth the extra money, and why is your price lower than the local mill?
Short answers. 6061 is worth it when the tube carries load. And the price gap is real, mostly because China still runs the largest aluminum extrusion base in the world. China exported 5.1 million tonnes of aluminum products in 2025, more than Germany (1.94 million tonnes) and the whole EU (1.6 million tonnes) combined.
What Chinese aluminum tube suppliers actually ship
If you are sourcing aluminum pipe or tube, you are looking at extruded and drawn profiles, not a rolled sheet. The catalogue is wider than most buyers expect.
| Type | Size range | Wall thickness | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round tube | OD 6 mm to 1000 mm | 0.5 mm to 40 mm | 3000 / 6000 mm or custom |
| Square tube | 10x10 mm to 200x200 mm | 1.0 mm to 10 mm | 6000 mm or custom |
| Rectangular tube | 20x10 mm to 300x200 mm | 1.0 mm to 10 mm | 6000 mm or custom |
| Inch series (NPS) | 1/2" to 6" | 1.2 mm to 10 mm | 6000 mm |
Common grades are 1050, 1060, 3003, 5052, 5083, 6061, 6063, 6082 and 7075. Tempers run O, H14, H32, T4, T5, T6 and T651. Surface finishes are mill finish, anodized, electrophoretic, powder coated, polished and sand blasted.
6061 vs 6063 aluminum tube, which one do you order
This is the question that decides your quote. They are not interchangeable, and picking wrong costs you either money or a failed weld.
| Property | 6063-T5 | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | About 186 MPa | About 310 MPa |
| Anodizing finish | Excellent, clean and even | Good, slightly duller tone |
| Machining and welding | Easy to extrude, easy to weld | Machines well, needs filler on thick wall |
| Typical use | Windows, doors, curtain wall, furniture, railing | Structural frames, machine guards, truck body, jigs |
| Relative price | Lower | About 15 to 25 percent higher |
My rule of thumb: if the tube is visible and gets anodized, take 6063. If the tube carries weight or vibration, take 6061-T6. For marine work neither of these is first choice, you want 5052 or 5083 for the corrosion resistance.
The full grade list with tempers and standard cross references is on our aluminum alloy products page, including the GB/T to ASTM and EN equivalents so your engineer can confirm the grade locally.
What aluminum tube costs per ton from China in 2026
Price depends on alloy, temper, finish, wall thickness and order size. Very thin wall and very large OD both push the price up because of extrusion speed. Below are the bands we work with in mid 2026.
| Product | FOB price per ton (mid 2026) |
|---|---|
| 6063-T5 mill finish tube | $2,600 - $3,300 |
| 6061-T6 tube | $3,100 - $3,900 |
| 5052 / 5083 marine tube | $3,400 - $4,300 |
| Anodized or powder coated tube | add $180 - $450 |
Treat these as a planning range, not a fixed quote. The LME aluminium base and the conversion premium both move, and the only number that matters is the one on your quotation for the day you order. Confirm it before you build your landed cost.
The wider market supports steady demand. MarketsandMarkets put the aluminum plate market at $32.71 billion in 2026, growing to $52.95 billion by 2035 at a 5.1 percent CAGR, with Asia Pacific holding 49.2 percent of global share in 2025. Extruded tube rides the same wave.
MOQ, samples and lead time, the part buyers get wrong
Most first orders fail on expectation, not price. Buyers assume a sample container means sample pricing, and then get surprised by the coating surcharge or the packing cost.
For standard sizes there is usually no MOQ and one mixed 20ft container is normal. Custom square or rectangular dies need roughly 3 to 5 tonnes to amortise the die cost, so keep custom profiles for a repeat order.
Lead time is 7 to 15 days for mill finish and 15 to 25 days for anodized or coated tube. Sea freight adds 7 to 14 days to Southeast Asia, 20 to 30 days to the Middle East and 35 to 45 days to South America.
Two things worth asking for at the sample stage: a 300 mm offcut from the actual production run, not a bench sample, and the mill certificate that will travel with the goods. Both cost the supplier almost nothing and save you an argument later.
Certificates and HS codes that clear customs
Aluminum tube is a routine classification but the paperwork has to match the goods exactly.
- Non alloy aluminum tube: HS 7608.10
- Aluminum alloy tube: HS 7608.20
- Aluminum tube and pipe fittings: HS 7609.00
- Mill test certificate showing alloy, temper, chemical composition and mechanical properties
- ISO 9001, plus SGS or BV third party inspection on request
- CE marking documents where the buyer's market requires them
Give your broker the mill certificate, not just the invoice. Destination customs classifies on the chemistry, and a mismatched alloy is the single most common reason a tube container sits in the port.
How to place your first aluminum tube order
- Write down the alloy, temper, size, wall thickness, length and finish for every line.
- Say how the tube will be used so the supplier can flag a wrong grade before you commit.
- Ask for FOB and CIF quotes side by side, plus the packing method.
- Request a production offcut sample and the draft mill certificate.
- Confirm the coating colour with a physical panel, not a screen image.
- Check the tolerance standard in writing, GB/T 4436 or ASTM B210/B241.
Send the drawing or the size list and we come back with the price, the lead time and the certificate set in one reply. If you are still comparing grades, start from the aluminum alloy range and tell us the application.
Ready to price your tube list? Send the sizes and alloy to our sales team and we will return a full quotation with lead time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of aluminum tube from China in 2026?
Mill finish 6063-T5 tube sits around $2,600 to $3,300 per ton FOB in mid-2026, and 6061-T6 around $3,100 to $3,900 per ton. Anodized or powder coated tube adds roughly $180 to $450 per ton depending on colour and film thickness. Ask for a fresh quotation because the LME aluminium base moves month to month.
Which is better, 6061 or 6063 aluminum tube?
6063 is the extrusion and anodizing grade, so it gives cleaner surfaces and is cheaper. 6061-T6 is stronger, about 310 MPa tensile, and is the one you order for structural frames, machine guards and anything under load. Most buyers use 6063 for architectural and decorative work and 6061 for structural work.
What is the MOQ for aluminum tube?
For standard sizes in the aluminum alloy catalogue there is usually no strict MOQ, and one 20ft container of mixed sizes is a normal first order. Custom dies for a non standard square or rectangular profile need around 3 to 5 tonnes to make the die cost worth it.
How long does delivery take?
Standard mill finish tube ships in 7 to 15 days after deposit. Anodized or coated tube takes 15 to 25 days because of the surface line. Sea freight to South America runs about 35 to 45 days, to the Middle East 20 to 30 days, and to Southeast Asia 7 to 14 days.
What is the HS code for aluminum tube?
Non alloy aluminum tube is 7608.10 and aluminum alloy tube is 7608.20. Tube fittings sit under 7609.00. Give your broker the mill certificate with the exact alloy and temper so the classification holds at destination.
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- Aluminum Alloy Plate Grade Selection Guide for Importers 2026
- Aluminum Sheet Weight and Price Per Kg Guide 2026
- Stainless Steel Sheet Supplier in China: 304 and 316 Order Guide 2026
- 6061 vs 6082 Aluminum: Which Grade Should You Order? (2026 Guide)
Sources: MarketsandMarkets aluminum plate market report, July 2026 ($32.71 billion in 2026 to $52.95 billion by 2035, 5.1 percent CAGR, Asia Pacific 49.2 percent of 2025 share); SMM June 2026 China aluminum plate, sheet and strip export data, July 2026 (354,000 tonnes in June, up 10.6 percent month on month, 1,789,100 tonnes in H1 2026, Mexico the top destination at 45,300 tonnes); CRU Aluminum Market Update July 2026 survey (general plate lead time 8.5 weeks, automotive body sheet 9 weeks, can stock 5.5 weeks); AL Circle analysis, July 2026 (data centre build-out to add about 1.1 million tonnes of aluminium demand over 2025 to 2030 at 8 to 10 percent CAGR; China aluminium product exports 5.1 million tonnes in 2025). Price bands are FANY LASER factory-direct planning ranges for mid 2026 and move with the LME base and conversion premium. Confirm every figure against your own quotation, mill certificate and broker ruling before you commit.