European aluminium foil demand grows to 494,000 tonnes in H1 2022, leading to stable deliveries

European aluminium foil deliveries for containers and technical applications returned to stability in H1 2022 , though exports continued to decline at the rate of -15%, revealed the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). EAFA data also showed the overall demand for aluminium foil in Europe grew in the first half of 2022 by 0.7 per cent to 494,000 tonnes versus 490,300 tonnes in H1 2021.

Demand for thicker gauges, used for semi-rigid containers, technical or other applications, rose in the second quarter of 2022 after fluctuating through Q1 2022. That resulted in increased deliveries in the first six months of 2022 ended June 30, finishing at just below 2 per cent from the same period last year. Thinner gauges, used for flexible packaging and household foils, saw 2.2 per cent growth in demand during 2Q2022, enabling deliveries to increase by 2.3 per cent from a year ago. Overall domestic sales of all gauges were 3.3 per ahead.

Bruno Rea, Chair of the EAFA Roller Group, is optimistic about the rest of 2022. He said: “We are pleased to see the return of a stable business environment, despite the generally difficult economic situation. European foil rollers are very concerned about the availability of natural gas and its price development. So we very much welcome the decision by the EU Commission and its Member States to consider the agri-food supply chain as “societally-critical” in the “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” initiative. About three quarters of aluminium foil deliveries are used for food and pharmaceutical packaging and related applications.”

“We are eager to serve our customers with the volumes necessary to ensure the safe and secure supply of products which are seen as vital to European consumers and patients. The outlook for the second half is predicted to be on a similar level to the first six months, but it is very dependent on the general situation in a number of critical areas of supply and inflationary factors in all our markets,” he added.