Ceepackaging

Analysis

Successful half year for aluminium foil

The usage inside the EAFA region* grew by 4.4 percent while exports considerably
dropped by almost ten percent. The tonnage based volume for thinner gauges mainly used
for flexible packaging increased by 1.6 percent and thicker materials used for containers
and technical applications went even up by nearly ten percent.
In the second quarter the growth rate slowed down: There was a stable sales development
in total (224,400 tons) while the intra EAFA usage grew by two percent, the exports fell by
eleven percent.
“Over the last twelve months the foil industry in Europe installed new
or updated capacities to maintain the global leadership in terms of
quality and production efficiency and closed older facilities recently”,
explained EAFA Executive Director Stefan Glimm the slower growth
rate. “Especially the demand inside the EAFA region is still strong and
the European manufacturers of aluminium foil mills are optimistic to
have another record year.”
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. Its more than 120 members include
companies in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.