UK’s aluminium bar rods and profiles export amount to dip this year but not the export value

The United Kingdom is known for the automobile industry, followed by the building and construction sector that generates considerable demand for aluminium bar, rods and profiles. Of late, the UK’s aerospace industry has increased its operations that also demand aluminium bar rods and profiles. Besides, the UK is a major aluminium product manufacturing hub; so, the country supplies aluminium bar rods and profiles to other parts of the world besides using in the domestic market.

In 2016, the United Kingdom had exported 16,820 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles to several countries, which in 2017 increased to 18,905 tonnes, up 12.39 per cent. In 2018, the export amount rose further to 20,991 tonnes, 25 per cent higher than in 2016 and 11 per cent higher than in 2017. However, this year, the United Kingdom’s aluminium bar rods and profiles export is likely to stand down by 4 per cent year on year to 20,196 tonnes.

Nevertheless, although the UK’s aluminium bar rods and profiles export amount is estimated to dip this year, yet the country’s export value is likely to record rise from US$84 million in 2018 to US$85 million in 2019. In 2016 and 2017, the country’s export value was at US$58 million and US$77 million, which shows that over the past three years the country’s export value rose year on year. In 2017, the value rose 33 per cent from 2016, while in 2018 it increased by 9 per cent from the previous year.

The expansion of the global aluminium profile, bar and rod industry is forecast to reach 9.7% p.a. in the coming years. Between 2007 and 2013 the market increased with an average annual growth of 6.1%.