What are the most common aluminum ingot grades bought from China?

For pure aluminum, 1050, 1070 and 1100; for die casting, ADC12 (JIS), A380 (ASTM) and A356; for extrusion and structural use, 6063 and 6061. The right grade depends on the casting or rolling process and the final application.

What documents should a buyer request with an aluminum ingot order?

A certificate of analysis or mill test certificate for the lot, chemical composition results (ideally spectrometer data), quantity and weight documents, a packing list, and any destination-market or fumigation certificates required by the importing country.

How are aluminum ingot prices quoted?

Most China quotes are built on the LME aluminum price plus a regional premium, a processing or supply premium, and freight. Prices move with the metal market, so a written quote should state the pricing date and its validity period.

What is the typical MOQ for aluminum ingots from China?

Stock lots from traders or distributors can start from about 1-5 tonnes, while smelter-direct orders usually require a full container or larger. Confirm MOQ, packaging and delivery terms in writing for each RFQ.

Why is a COA alone not enough?

A COA states the producer's claimed composition for the lot, but buyers often add an independent spectrometer test or third-party laboratory analysis on the shipped lot, especially for alloy ingots where impurities such as iron, zinc and magnesium affect casting results.

How to Buy Aluminum Ingots from China: Grades, Documents and Pricing

TL;DR — Direct Answers

Common grades: pure ingots 1050/1070/1100 for rolling, foil and conductors; ADC12 (JIS) or A380 (ASTM) for high-pressure die casting; A356 for heat-treatable castings; 6063/6061 as extrusion alloys.
Ask for a lot COA or mill test certificate and add independent spectrometer or third-party lab testing on the shipped lot; impurities such as iron, zinc and magnesium directly affect casting and mechanical results.
China quotes are usually built on the LME aluminum price plus a regional premium, supply premium and freight; a written quote must state the pricing date and validity.

Why Buyers Source Aluminum Ingots from China

China is the world's largest primary aluminum producer, with integrated smelters and secondary alloy plants concentrated in northern and central regions. Major export ports include Tianjin, Qingdao and Shanghai. Buyers typically source two families of products: primary pure ingots for rolling and extrusion, and secondary alloy ingots for casting — especially die casting.

Common Grades and Typical Uses

Grade	Standard family	Typical use
1050, 1070, 1100	GB/T 3190, EN 573	Reroll stock, foil, sheet, electrical conductors
ADC12	JIS H2118	High-pressure die casting (electronics, automotive housings)
A380	ASTM B85	High-pressure die casting (US specification family)
A356	ASTM A356, GB/T 8733	Heat-treatable castings, wheels, structural and automotive parts
6063, 6061	GB/T 3190	Extrusion alloys, usually supplied as billet

A grade name is only a starting point. The same name can have different composition limits under different standards, so a formal RFQ should state the acceptance standard (for example JIS H2118, ASTM B85 or GB/T 8733) and the maximum allowed limits for key elements such as iron, zinc and magnesium.

Documents You Should Request

COA / mill test certificate for the specific lot, not a generic product brochure.
Chemical composition results, ideally spectrometer data per ingot batch, compared against the agreed limits.
Weight and quantity documents — gross and net weight, number of ingots, bundle count.
Packing list and any destination-market certificates (for example fumigation, where required).
Independent test report — many buyers add a third-party spectrometer or laboratory test on the shipped lot before payment release.

How Aluminum Ingot Prices Are Built

Most China quotes are constructed as: LME aluminum price + regional premium + supply/processing premium + freight. For secondary alloy ingots, the scrap cost and alloying element prices also matter. Metal prices move daily, so a quote without a pricing date and validity period is not comparable. Always ask for the pricing basis and re-quote before placing an order.

MOQ, Payment and Lead Time

MOQ: trader or distributor stock lots often start from 1-5 tonnes; smelter-direct orders usually require a full container or a larger monthly volume.
Payment: common terms are 30% T/T deposit with 70% against B/L copy, or L/C at sight for larger contract volumes. Terms should always match the written contract.
Lead time: stock lots can ship within days; production or alloy-specific orders need a confirmed production window from the plant.

Inspection and Shipping

For metal orders, a pre-shipment inspection normally covers: appearance and surface condition, ingot weight sampling, count against the packing list, and composition verification by spectrometer or laboratory analysis on an agreed sample plan. Container stuffing photos and seal records protect both sides at destination. For multi-tonne orders, agree in advance on sampling quantity, test method and which party's laboratory decides in case of disagreement.

RFQ Checklist

Grade and acceptance standard (for example ADC12 per JIS H2118, or A356 per ASTM A356).
Chemistry limits and tolerances, especially Fe, Zn, Mg, and any restricted elements.
Ingot form, dimensions and unit weight.
Tonnage, packaging (strapped bundles, pallets) and container loading requirements.
Destination, Incoterm and target delivery date.
Documents required and the acceptance method (COA, third-party test, inspection).

What to Do Next

Send the grade, tonnage, destination and target date to Yuhua Yunchuang. We first identify information gaps and comparable quotation conditions, then verify supplier identity, stock status, documents and inspection arrangements order by order.