Alufoil market on the up at the start of 2014

In particular exports from Europe recorded an excellent increase compared with the same period in 2013.

Overall alufoil production during the first quarter reached 219,000 tonnes, up from 208,000 tonnes.

Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils, added 3.3 percent to continue the steady recovery seen for most of last year, EAFA said, while after a slowdown through most of last year there was a welcome return to growth for thicker gauges, used typically for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, which saw a 10 percent improvement compared with the first three months of 2013.

Inside Europe, the still slow, but improving, economic situation led to a 2.2 percent increase in production to 193,000 tonnes. Markets outside Europe, where economic activity is increasing sharply, accounted for shipments of 26,000 tonnes.

EAFA executive director Stefan Glimm said: ‘This is a highly pleasing set of figures following the challenging year just ended. The very welcome increase in deliveries of thicker gauges indicates that the sectors served by these products may be stabilising, after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

‘The outlook is increasingly optimistic and every quarter of growth gives us more confidence in the recovery. But some markets are still fragile so we remain vigilant and have grown accustomed to responding quickly to changes in order to meet customers’ requirements.’ 

Read more from EAFA and track the performance of alufoil market here