Alufoil market ‘cautiously optimistic’

Final output figures for the year were 842,700 tonnes, 0.3 percent ahead of 2012.

Deliveries of thinner gauges, used largely for flexible packaging and household foils, remained positive throughout 2013, although the strong growth figures seen in the first half of the year did not carry on into the second. Demand for thicker gauges, used typically for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, declined across the year as ongoing uncertainty in construction and technical markets, and depressed demand from overseas, affected its performance.

EAFA’s region covers Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.

Exports, after a bright start to the year, tailed off, falling by 0.3 percent year-on-year as economic uncertainty in some markets delayed investment plans. However, thinner gauges increased deliveries by 1.1 percent compared with 2012, while thicker gauges recorded a downturn of 1.1 percent.

Manfred Mertens, EAFA vice-president, said: ‘After such a strong start to 2013 it was a little disappointing that the trend did not continue through the rest of the year. But the slower than expected economic recovery in Southern Europe and some of our key export markets held back demand, particularly for thicker gauges.

‘We see clear signs that the activity in 2014 is improving in all areas for both thin and thicker gauges. So we continue to be cautiously optimistic that markets are recovering all the time. It should not be forgotten either that thinner gauge deliveries increased throughout 2013, despite the challenging market conditions.’