Practical B2B Reference
Rotterdam-Loaded, SGS Verified
Updated for 2026 Trading
6063 is the workhorse extrusion alloy of the European architectural industry. Window frames, curtain walling, solar mounting systems and heat sinks across Europe are extruded from 6063 billet, and the end-of-life scrap returns to secondary remelters as one of the most prized aluminum streams in the world.
The trade name is Tense (ISRI). Buyers pay a premium because the alloy chemistry is known, the silicon and magnesium content is predictable and the metal can be recharged directly into 6xxx-series billet with minimal alloying correction.
6063 is a heat-treatable Al-Mg-Si alloy with silicon 0.20–0.60% and magnesium 0.45–0.90%. The narrow composition window is what gives extruded profiles their excellent surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
When 6063 scrap is remelted at a billet plant, the resulting molten metal can be cast directly into new 6063 billet with only minor adjustments. This circular property is the reason 6063 scrap commands one of the highest percentages of LME among aluminum grades.
Tense is clean, mill-run extrusion cut-offs, free of paint, anodising, thermal break inserts and steel fittings. Tata is similar material with light anodising or paint. Tutu is mixed extrusions with heavier paint and minor attached materials. Each step down the ladder costs the seller several percentage points of LME.
Buyers should specify the grade in writing and request photos of the actual lot, not generic catalogue images.
Three main streams feed European 6063 supply: (a) new mill cut-offs from extrusion presses, (b) fabricator drops from window and façade manufacturers, and (c) end-of-life material from demolition and window replacement projects.
Streams (a) and (b) are the cleanest and highest-yielding. Stream (c) usually carries paint, anodising and thermal-break plastic strips, and is typically traded as Tata rather than Tense.
6063 extrusion cut-offs load densely. A 20GP container carries 22–26 MT depending on the average length of cut-offs and the presence of any baling or briquetting. Long, uncut profiles can be more difficult to stuff and may lose 1–2 MT of payload.
For long-haul exports we usually request cut-off lengths under 1.2 m to maximise container fill and minimise damage during ocean transit.
Clean Tense delivers 95–98% metallic yield at the billet plant. The losses are limited to oxidation during melt and a small percentage of dross. Tata yields 91–94% and Tutu 85–90% depending on paint load.
Because the remelter avoids alloying adjustments, the total economic value of clean 6063 is higher than the headline LME discount suggests.
SGS or Intertek pre-shipment inspection covers: visual grade verification, sample weighing, absence of foreign attachments, and where requested an OES (optical emission spectrometry) sample to confirm 6063 chemistry.
For Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese destinations, the inspection certificate is presented to customs alongside commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
Tense trades at 85–92% of LME aluminum cash, CIF Asian and Middle Eastern ports. Premium clean mill-run lots can reach the upper end of the band, while Tata and Tutu sit lower as described above.
Buyers should request a fresh quote on the day of booking — the LME moves daily and freight rates from Rotterdam to Asia shift on a weekly basis.
| Parameter | Typical Spec |
|---|---|
| ISRI Code | Tense |
| Alloy | 6063 (Al-Mg-Si) |
| Silicon | 0.20 – 0.60% |
| Magnesium | 0.45 – 0.90% |
| Paint / anodising | None (Tense) / Light (Tata) / Heavier (Tutu) |
| Attached steel / plastic | None |
| Cut-off length | ≤ 1.2 m preferred |
| 20GP container fill | 22 – 26 MT |
| Metallic yield | 95 – 98% (Tense) |
| LME pricing band | 85 – 92% (Tense) |
Contact our sales team for competitive pricing, bulk orders, and customized solutions.MOQ: 25 MT | Monthly Capacity: 20,000 MT