Italy’s foundry and extrusion industries import bulk of primary aluminium from Middle East and Russia

Italy is the world’s largest consumer of aluminium after USA, Japan, People’s Republic of China and Germany. The aluminium market is concentrated almost exclusively in the north of the country. The large part of aluminium is used by extrusion plants and foundries to supply to the automobile industry. In addition to extrusion, Italy is also a leader in metal casting. Together with Germany and France, Italy is one of the largest producers of foundry products.  Major carmakers like Ducati in Modena, Alfa Romeo in Milan and Fiat in Turin drive the demand for aluminium extruded products and foundry products in Italy. Italy’s largest shipbuilding company, Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., is also based in the northern region and account for significant aluminium consumption.  

Italy imports significant amount of primary aluminium ingots to supply their local extrusion and foundry industries and export the processed aluminium products globally. Let us analyse the trading patterns for primary aluminium in Italy to understand the market demand and consumption trends.


Italy’s import of aluminium has been on an upward trend in last three years.  In the year 2014, imports of aluminium stood at about 1.1 million tons. The volume increased slightly to 1.13 million tons in 2015. In 2016, the aluminium import is estimated to stand at about 1.3 million tons.  The constant rise in import is driven by growing domestic aluminium consumption to manufacture value added aluminium products mostly for the automotive and the construction sector.  For the first eight months of 2017, the import of aluminium by Italy is estimated to be about 9, 52,545 tons.

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The cost from import was US$ 2.5 billion and US$ 2.3 billion respectively for the years 2014 and 2015. The drop in value can be attributed to an oversupply of aluminium in the international markets and the drop in aluminium price and premiums in 2015. In 2016, the cost of import is estimated to be about US$ 2.4 billion. For the first eight months of 2017, the cost of import of aluminium by South Korea is estimated to be about US$ 1.7 billion.

The imports are mainly driven by Russia. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Canada and Norway also supply a significant amount of aluminium to Italy.
 
Some of the leading aluminium product manufacturing companies are extruders CO.M.P.ES in Rodengo-saiano, Estral and Deral in Manerbio, Metra in Ragusa, Sepal in Gussago, Eural Gnutti in Rovato; the aluminium producer and fabricator Raffmetal in Casto and the foundry equipment supplier Fata Aluminium in Rivoli. Italy has a strong business relation with Saudi Arabia and UAE for years. Italy maintains a leading position in the industry of top quality, technologically advanced non-ferrous foundry and the country hereby will remain a big market for aluminium producers in Russia and Middle East.