Ceepackaging

Analysis

Strong demand for aluminium foil

Statistics from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) put total shipments up to
228,300 tons (2006: 219,800 tons). Domestic sales into the EAFA region* increased by 6.2
percent while exports dropped by eight percent.
“For the upcoming months we expect this trend to continue due to the high
potential of aluminium foil in today’s packaging markets”, comments
EAFA’s Executive Director Stefan Glimm. “The declining exports are more
a result of full capacities than lower international competitiveness. The
European aluminium foil industry continues to be the global benchmark in
terms of product quality and process innovation.”
Thicker gauges, mainly used for the manufacture of semi-rigid container and technical
applications, took off with nearly ten percent and thinner gauges, normally used in flexible
packaging, rose by 4.4 percent.
Approximately three quarters of aluminium foil is used in packaging where its characteristics of
strength, formability and barrier properties have made it an essential part of many flexible
packaging and container applications. Other uses of aluminium foil include automotive and
other heat exchange components, insulation material and other industrial applications.
The European Aluminium Foil Association is the international body representing companies
engaged in the rolling and rewinding of alufoil and in the manufacture of alufoil containers and
of all kind of flexible packaging. It has more than 120 members include companies in Western,
Central and Eastern Europe.
* EAFA region covers Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, EU15, Hungary, Norway, Russia, Slovenia,
Switzerland and Turkey