Aluminium foil market in Q2 2025: European demand softens, exports remain strong

Following an exceptionally dynamic start to the year, European aluminium foil rollers saw a more moderate growth rate in the second quarter of 2025. According to the latest figures from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), total deliveries between April and June reached 236,500 tonnes, representing a 4.2% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. While shipments to markets outside Europe continued to grow significantly by +20.3%, growth within Europe was noticeably more restrained at +2.4%.

The most affected segment was thinner gauges (< 60 µm), which are primarily used in flexible packaging. Here, growth came to a near standstill compared to the previous quarter, with only +0.9% recorded in Q2. This slowdown was driven by ongoing destocking following strong inventory build-ups in Q1, as well as weaker demand in key end-use markets such as coffee and chocolate, which have been hit hard by rising raw material prices. In addition, previously strong-performing segments like pet food are rather stagnating.

In contrast, exports continue to drive growth: shipments to non-European markets rose by +26% for thinner gauges and by +9% for thicker gauges (61–200 µm). Demand in export markets remained particularly strong for thinner foil, especially for use in flexible packaging applications.

In the first half of 2025, total aluminium foil deliveries reached 480,300 tonnes, marking a 7.7% increase year-on-year. Shipments to European markets grew by over 6%, while exports to countries outside Europe surged by almost 20%, confirming the increasing relevance of international markets. The total growth was almost equally even between both thickness ranges. The growth in the period April to June underscores the positive trend seen in Q1, even though growth momentum slowed somewhat in Q2. Notably, exports continued to play a key role in balancing softer demand within Europe and underlined the industry’s strong global competitiveness.

“We are seeing a consolidation in European demand during the second quarter of 2025. While momentum in domestic markets has clearly slowed, export markets continue to perform well and provide stability for the industry,” said Bruno Rea, Chair of the EAFA Roller Group. “For the second half of the year, we anticipate a slower sales trend due to the base effect from the exceptionally strong second half of 2024. Nevertheless, our industry continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a challenging environment – supported by its international footprint and the continued trust in aluminium foil as a sustainable packaging material.”