Magnesium anode: In recent two years, the development of the world magnesium industry showed an unbalanced trend. A few years ago, there were 11 magnesium plants in western countries. Now there are only three raw magnesium plants in existence, the American Magnesium Corporation in Utah, with a capacity of 43,000 tons per year. Dead Sea Magnesium in Israel has a capacity of 33,000 t/a, and Nvidia Hydro's magnesium plant in Becanvour, Canada, has a capacity of 48,000 t/a. According to the international Magnesium Association statistics for the second quarter of 2003, the volume of magnesium traded in western countries in the second quarter of 2003 was 36,000 tons, down 12.3% from the 41,000 tons delivered in the first quarter of 2003 and down 13.5% from the 41,600 tons delivered in the first quarter of 2002.

While the structure of the world's magnesium industrial supply base may be changing, the automotive industry remains the traditional end-user market and remains the major industry that can be relied on to drive magnesium production growth. The application of magnesium alloy in automotive parts is mainly die casting, magnesium alloy die casting is the most reliable market share of magnesium metal market. Norsk Hydro is the world's largest supplier of magnesium alloys to the automotive industry. Data show that in the next five years the European automotive market average annual growth rate of 12%, magnesium alloy die casting in the past 10 years, the world's automobile magnesium alloy die casting market average annual growth rate of 15%. The European demand for magnesium alloy die casting in 2002 accounted for 34% of total demand around the world, Asia accounted for 14%, the two regions of the demand is still growing. In contrast, North American demand for magnesium alloy die castings declined from 19% to 48% of global demand in 2002, accounting for 70% of global demand. There are currently 2.5kg of magnesium used per car in Europe, and there are 30 different magnesium alloy parts used in various types of cars in Europe, which is expected to double in the next 10 years. Automobile steering wheel can be made of magnesium alloy, 85% of cars have used magnesium alloy steering wheel, the high-temperature resistant magnesium alloy under development is an ideal material for automobile engine, Germany'S BMW produced magnesium automobile engine body.

Although the use of magnesium alloy die castings in automotive applications is expected to increase for some time to come, it should be noted that some major car manufacturers have recently been looking for materials other than metal. Magnesium in automotive parts can completely replace aluminum, but the cost is relatively high, in the choice of automotive materials always have to take into account the material price.