Industry news
New Mg Alloys for Transport: Value Chain & Outlook
At a crossroads of the global auto industry's full transition toward electrification and smart technology, lightweighting has been elevated from a "technical option" to a "survival necessity." The latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that for every 10 percent of weight reduction in an electric vehicle, its range increases by 6 to 8 percent. Against this backdrop, magnesium alloy — a metal whose density is only two-thirds that of aluminum and a quarter that of steel — is taking the spotlight on the industry's main stage with unprecedented strategic significance. According to data from the Global Automotive Lightweight Materials Market Outlook, the global market size for automotive magnesium alloys exceeded $4.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $8.2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. Especially in the field of new energy vehicles, battery pack casings, electric drive systems, seat frames, and ultra-large integrated die-casting structural components are becoming new fronts for the explosion in magnesium alloy applications. In some cutting-edge vehicle models, the use of magnesium has jumped from the traditional level of about 5 kilograms to over 15 kilograms.
Currently, about 85% of the global primary magnesium supply remains highly concentrated in China, posing significant geopolitical and supply chain risks. An even more serious challenge lies in the dominant traditional Pidgeon process production method, whose carbon emission intensity is five to six times that of electrolytic aluminum production. Although the industry is accelerating its transition to low-carbon technologies, the average carbon footprint of the existing production structure remains high based on the latest research and industry consensus, with per-ton magnesium carbon emissions still in the high range of 20–30 tons of CO₂ equivalent. This has created a sharp contradiction between the "high carbon footprint" in the production of magnesium alloys and their significant benefits in weight reduction and emission reduction during the usage phase. As the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered a transitional period in October 2023 and will be fully implemented in 2026, magnesium products derived from high-carbon processes will face direct financial cost barriers and market access risks. This has become one of the most critical considerations for downstream users worldwide in making supply chain decisions.
Globally, a technological and investment competition around "green magnesium" is quietly intensifying. In China, several leading companies are deploying low-carbon silicothermic process technological transformations centered on "green power + vertical tank heat storage," aiming to reduce carbon emissions per ton of magnesium by over 50%. In Europe, multiple projects funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program are dedicated to developing demonstration lines for primary magnesium production based entirely on renewable energy electrolysis. In North America, strategic investments aimed at establishing localized, closed-loop magnesium supply chains have also been initiated. The diversification of technological pathways and the restructuring of regional supply chains are injecting new momentum into the green transformation of the global magnesium industry.
At this critical juncture, the industry requires more than just a focus on individual technologies—it needs a systematic roadmap that integrates “materials science, manufacturing processes, supply chains, and carbon management.” To this end, the 21st China Die Casting Congress is honored to invite Martin Tauber, the European representative of the International Magnesium Association (IMA), to share insights on the opportunities and challenges of magnesium alloy automotive components.
Brief Vita of the Speaker
Martin Tauber
Representative
International Magnesium Association
International marketing, sales, and business development executive with over 30 years of experience in global markets and a record in leadership across the polyolefins, chemicals, and non-ferrous metals industries.
In the magnesium sector, Martin Tauber held senior roles at Norsk Hydro and Magontec, and later became an advisor. He serves as Representative and former Chairman diverse Committees of the International Magnesium Association (IMA), and is a founding member and president of the Critical Raw Material Alliance.
Recognized by the European Commission, he contributes to policy discussions on critical raw materials. He has lived and worked in Austria, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium.
Brief Abstract of the Presentation
Magnesium alloys are emerging as a key lightweight material for next-generation mobility, offering the highest weight-reduction potential of all structural metals. New applications in automotive and transport systems—ranging from integrated structural castings and electric drivetrain housings to seat structures and battery-related components—demonstrate its growing technical maturity and system-level benefits. Each kilogram of magnesium can replace significantly higher masses of steel or aluminium, delivering energy savings, lower battery demand, and reduced life-cycle emissions.
At the same time, magnesium faces major challenges related to its highly concentrated international supply chain, strong dependence on primary production in China, and historically high carbon intensity. Ongoing developments in low-carbon primary technologies, recycling systems, and advanced processing routes are rapidly improving its sustainability profile. The future competitiveness of magnesium will depend on combining lightweight innovation with supply security, regional diversification, and circular material strategies, positioning it as both an engineering and strategic material for sustainable mobility.
About Die Casting Congress
The 21st China Die Casting Congress will be held in Wuhan, China from March 25 to 27, 2026. Under the theme of "Al & Mg, Casting a Lighter Future", it will gather global industry leaders to jointly shape the lightweight future.
Register to be a delegate! Now!
Foundry Institution of Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society
Ms. You Yi
+86 24 25855793
youyi@foundrynations.com
Also organized by the Foundry Institution of Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (FICMES), CHINA DIECASTING & CHINA NONFERROUS expo 2026, will be held from July 15 to 17, 2026 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (Halls N1–N4). As Asia's largest specialized exhibition for die casting and nonferrous foundry, this edition, under the theme "Twin Engines: Al & Mg, A Lightweight Future," is expected to span 49,200 square meters, attract over 600 exhibitors, and welcome 28,000 professional visitors. Colleagues from around the world are warmly invited to visit and exchange insights.
Currently, about 85% of the global primary magnesium supply remains highly concentrated in China, posing significant geopolitical and supply chain risks. An even more serious challenge lies in the dominant traditional Pidgeon process production method, whose carbon emission intensity is five to six times that of electrolytic aluminum production. Although the industry is accelerating its transition to low-carbon technologies, the average carbon footprint of the existing production structure remains high based on the latest research and industry consensus, with per-ton magnesium carbon emissions still in the high range of 20–30 tons of CO₂ equivalent. This has created a sharp contradiction between the "high carbon footprint" in the production of magnesium alloys and their significant benefits in weight reduction and emission reduction during the usage phase. As the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered a transitional period in October 2023 and will be fully implemented in 2026, magnesium products derived from high-carbon processes will face direct financial cost barriers and market access risks. This has become one of the most critical considerations for downstream users worldwide in making supply chain decisions.
Globally, a technological and investment competition around "green magnesium" is quietly intensifying. In China, several leading companies are deploying low-carbon silicothermic process technological transformations centered on "green power + vertical tank heat storage," aiming to reduce carbon emissions per ton of magnesium by over 50%. In Europe, multiple projects funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program are dedicated to developing demonstration lines for primary magnesium production based entirely on renewable energy electrolysis. In North America, strategic investments aimed at establishing localized, closed-loop magnesium supply chains have also been initiated. The diversification of technological pathways and the restructuring of regional supply chains are injecting new momentum into the green transformation of the global magnesium industry.
At this critical juncture, the industry requires more than just a focus on individual technologies—it needs a systematic roadmap that integrates “materials science, manufacturing processes, supply chains, and carbon management.” To this end, the 21st China Die Casting Congress is honored to invite Martin Tauber, the European representative of the International Magnesium Association (IMA), to share insights on the opportunities and challenges of magnesium alloy automotive components.
Brief Vita of the Speaker
Martin Tauber
Representative
International Magnesium Association
International marketing, sales, and business development executive with over 30 years of experience in global markets and a record in leadership across the polyolefins, chemicals, and non-ferrous metals industries.
In the magnesium sector, Martin Tauber held senior roles at Norsk Hydro and Magontec, and later became an advisor. He serves as Representative and former Chairman diverse Committees of the International Magnesium Association (IMA), and is a founding member and president of the Critical Raw Material Alliance.
Recognized by the European Commission, he contributes to policy discussions on critical raw materials. He has lived and worked in Austria, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium.
Brief Abstract of the Presentation
Magnesium alloys are emerging as a key lightweight material for next-generation mobility, offering the highest weight-reduction potential of all structural metals. New applications in automotive and transport systems—ranging from integrated structural castings and electric drivetrain housings to seat structures and battery-related components—demonstrate its growing technical maturity and system-level benefits. Each kilogram of magnesium can replace significantly higher masses of steel or aluminium, delivering energy savings, lower battery demand, and reduced life-cycle emissions.
At the same time, magnesium faces major challenges related to its highly concentrated international supply chain, strong dependence on primary production in China, and historically high carbon intensity. Ongoing developments in low-carbon primary technologies, recycling systems, and advanced processing routes are rapidly improving its sustainability profile. The future competitiveness of magnesium will depend on combining lightweight innovation with supply security, regional diversification, and circular material strategies, positioning it as both an engineering and strategic material for sustainable mobility.
About Die Casting Congress
The 21st China Die Casting Congress will be held in Wuhan, China from March 25 to 27, 2026. Under the theme of "Al & Mg, Casting a Lighter Future", it will gather global industry leaders to jointly shape the lightweight future.
Register to be a delegate! Now!
Foundry Institution of Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society
Ms. You Yi
+86 24 25855793
youyi@foundrynations.com
Also organized by the Foundry Institution of Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (FICMES), CHINA DIECASTING & CHINA NONFERROUS expo 2026, will be held from July 15 to 17, 2026 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (Halls N1–N4). As Asia's largest specialized exhibition for die casting and nonferrous foundry, this edition, under the theme "Twin Engines: Al & Mg, A Lightweight Future," is expected to span 49,200 square meters, attract over 600 exhibitors, and welcome 28,000 professional visitors. Colleagues from around the world are warmly invited to visit and exchange insights.
