The aluminium foil deliveries* in the first quarter reached the level before the economic recession. Figures released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) show an impressive increase of 17 % compared to last year and a total amount just 1.5 % below 2008. Total deliveries reached 213,000 t versus 182,200 t in 2009.

In particular the demand for thinner alufoil gauges mainly used for flexible packaging and household foil was strong and up by almost 20 % and even 7 % above 2008 level. The thicker gauges also showed a significant increase in the first three months of 16 % compared to last year's period. These thicker gauges besides their use in container applications are often used in automotive, building and other industrial sectors and as those sectors have not yet fully recovered deliveries were still below the level of 2008.

The further outlook comments EAFA President François Coëffic: "The first quarter numbers are good news for the 100th anniversary of aluminium foil. Especially the foil packaging sector seems to have passed the severe recession but uncertainties remains about the economic stability. At least the midterm perspective looks very promising for the European alufoil industry and expectations are to reach the second best ever year 2008.

Evidence that recessionary influences are softening, particularly for the thinner aluminium foil used in packaging, can be found in production figures for 2009 released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

Grounds for optimism could be found in particular in the figures for the last quarter of 2009 which provided evidence that the use of thinner alufoil gauges were fairing well. Mainly used in flexible packaging applications and for household foil, figures were up by 11.3 % compared with the last quarter of 2008. Overall 2009 production figures for thinner gauges showed a slight increase of 0.3 % on 2008.

At 768,600 t total members' alufoil production for 2009 was 5 % down on 2008, but the final quarter of 2009 showed some signs of recovery at 199,400 t, a rise of 9.3 % on the same period in 2008. Within these figures, the news for thicker gauges, used for container applications and in automotive, building and other industrial sectors, was less encouraging at 16.6 % down on 2008. However, some signs of recovery can be found in the final quarter of 2009 with figures up 4 % compared with the same period in 2008.

Outlining how a variety of achievements have helped EAFA member companies weather the economic storm, EAFA president François Coëffic said: "Innovation and advances in efficient production methods have help the membership best serve its customers. This, alongside our commitment to sustainable production and consumption, has proved a real enabler for EAFA companies in these difficult times.

Aluminium foil characteristics are strength, formability and barrier properties which have made it an essential part of many flexible packaging and container applications. Other uses of aluminium foil include automotive and heat exchange components, insulation material and many industrial applications.

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

Cautious optimism in an economic recovery has been expressed by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) following publication of alufoil data for the first nine months of 2009. Latest figures show a 9.2 % fall to 569,200t in members' alufoil production, compared with the first three quarters of 2008 but the figures for September 2009 compared with 2008 indicate that there are some green shoots of recovery.

A quietly confident Stefan Glimm, EAFA's Executive Director, said: "There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel but there are still many uncertainties in the market. We are particularly pleased with the performance of foils used for both flexible packaging and containers such as foil trays, where the signs of recovery are most pronounced."

EAFA shipments* of thin foils, mainly used for flexible packaging and household foil, fell by only 3.2% to 327,500t for the first three quarters of 2009 compared with 2008. On the other hand, in line with the major recessionary impacts the worst affected area was automotive and construction which uses thicker foils, down 22.1% to 147,600 t. Sales within EAFA member countries* fell by 10 % while exports to other countries dropped by a modest 4.8%.

EAFA's foil roller members account for about 98 per cent of the total European foil market and represent nearly all countries in Europe, including Russia and Turkey.

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 heat exchanger components, insulation material and other industrial applications. 

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