Strong performance in H2 2016 boosts European aluminium foil deliveries

As confirmed by a press release from European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), strong performance from European aluminium foil rollers in H2 2016 has lifted deliveries above pre-economic crisis levels for the first time in 10 years. Domestic deliveries recorded 1.5% increase from 2015 and exports performed better than expected, according to the latest statistics by EAFA.

Despite flat demand in Q3 2016, October- December quarter returned to solid growth, lifting total production to reach 874,480 tonnes, an increase of 1.5% from last year. The last time it approached this level was in 2006 with a production volume of 865,870 tonnes.

Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils, ended the full year with 0.5% higher deliveries driven by strong result (+4.0%) in European markets for Q4. Thicker gauges, used in semi-rigid containers and technical applications ended the year with 3.4% growth after returning to a 1.4% increase in the last quarter from a weak third quarter.

Nothwithstanding strong overseas competition, exports too increased 1.3% compared to 2015 . Although the final quarter saw a decline, strong growth in Q1 and Q3 prevented the deliveries from turning negative. Notably, exports of thicker gauges were up by more than 20%.

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EAFA’s Executive Director, Guido Aufdemkamp expressed his satisfaction with the figures but said that it was too early to project an upward trend. “To have exceeded the previous all-time high is very encouraging. But we have seen volatile swings in demand patterns quarter on quarter for both thinner and thicker gauges through the last years. While the overall performance is very robust we will remain alert to continuing changes in market circumstances.”