UK’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips exports to extend rise by 7% in 2019; Germany to be the top importer

Global consumption of aluminium rolled products is expected to hit 30 million tonnes by 2020 at a CAGR of 5 per cent. Transportation sector is likely to surpass packaging industry to emerge as the largest application market of aluminium rolling within the said year. Along with the demand, the production and exports are also rising in many countries to meet the increasing global demand. According to the international export-import data, the United Kingdom is one such country which has been ramping-up the exports of aluminium plates, sheets and strips. Let us here analyse its growing trend.

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As the graph below shows the United Kingdom in 2016 approximately exported 97,756 tonnes, which in 2017 increased by 41 per cent to 137,475 tonnes. Recording a further rise of 19 per cent, the United Kingdom’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips exports came in at 163,440 tonnes in 2018. This year, the country is expected to be of no exception but extend its exports volume of aluminium plates, sheets and strips to 174,755 tonnes, up 7 per cent year-on-year.

In tandem with the rise in the United Kingdom’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips exports volume, the country’s export value is also expected to rise this year by 11 per cent year-on-year to US$508 million. In 2018, the UK’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips export value was at US$457 million after rising by 21 per cent from US$379 million. In 2016, the value was at US$244 million, which represents a year-on-year rise of 55 per cent in 2017.

Germany is expected to account for the largest share of the United Kingdom’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips export, importing 35,327 tonnes compared to 34,686 tonnes in 2018. France is estimated to be the second largest importer securing 29,502 tonnes, followed by USA hauling 23,276 tonnes. In contrast to this, France in 2018 imported 29,521 tonnes and USA 16,469 tonnes.