Transport industry demand to drive aluminium plates, sheets and strips imports in the EU in 2017

Rolled aluminium semi-finished products such as aluminium plates, sheets and strips can be used in many areas- automobile accessory and body element manufacturing being one of them. The high-strength, light-weight, durable, non-corrosive and highly-ductile material can be used to produce heat exchangers, license plates, car jacks, and panels. Of late, this particular aluminium downstream product category is being used by automakers in increased volumes to make automotive body sheets that make vehicles lighter and fuel-efficient.

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In the EU, which happens to be one of the world's prime automotive manufacturing hubs, the demand for aluminium automotive sheets is increasing. This is in direct correlation with the region's vehicle production. In 2015, 18.4 million motor vehicles were manufactured in the EU, which contributed 20 per cent of the global motor vehicle production, as per data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

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In 2015, the cumulative import volume of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in the EU's top five countries namely the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Sweden, amounted to 2.27 million tonnes. In 2016, the figure surged 5.2 per cent year-over-year to reach 2.39 million tonnes. In 2017, till July, the total import of  aluminium plates, sheets and strips in the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Sweden (representing the EU auto manufacturing hub, in this study), is estimated to total at 1.51 million tonnes.


value-wise, the total import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in the EU's top five countries namely the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Sweden, amounted to US$7.48 billion in 2015. The USD value of the imports took a hit in 2016, as the figure shrunk 9.5 per cent YoY to total at US$6.77 billion, due to a number of economic factors. In 2017, till July, the total import of the rolled aluminium semi-finished products in the EU is estimated to reach US$4.11 billion.

The use of aluminium in automobiles is on the rise globally. The metal with immense recycling potential helps in reducing the level of carbon dioxide emission from vehicles. According to ACEA data, currently, the European automobile industry invests €44.7 billion into R&D annually, much of which goes towards fuel-efficiency technologies, putting the European industry in the global lead for clean vehicles and production. With the economic activity stabilizing and consumer confidence improving post Brexit, the trend is expected to continue well through 2017 and beyond. Driven by increased consumption of the metal sheets in vehicles, imports will surge year-over-year in the region.

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In addition to automobile parts manufacturing, aluminium plates, sheets and strips also find use in packaging, building and construction, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and other industrial application areas.