European foil rollers with significant recovery in 2024
In 2024, the European aluminium foil industry recovered from the sharp declines of the previous year and recorded growth in almost all market segments.
Total deliveries of European aluminium foil production rose to 892,500 tonnes in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 7.3% compared to 2023 (831,700 tonnes). After struggling with weak demand and high inflation in 2023, the industry benefited from a reduction in inventories and increasing demand from the packaging sector, according to the latest figures from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).
Deliveries within Europe recorded an increase of 7.8%, while exports outside the EAFA region rose by 3.5%. In particular, deliveries within Europe of thicker aluminium foil (61-200µ), which is used for containers and technical applications, among others, rose by 9.5%. Deliveries of thinner foils (<60μ), which are used for flexible packaging and household foil, grew by 6.9%.
Following the sharp decline in 2023 due to high inflation and full inventories, the market benefited from a revival in the packaging sector in 2024. Consumers proved to be more resilient and adapted their consumption habits to the rise in food prices. In particular, demand for container films increased sharply (+23.8%) and demand for household films stabilised (+0.2%).
Total production of thin films grew by 6.8%, driven primarily by rising demand for packaging films for food and private household use. Thicker films recorded even stronger growth of 8.1%, driven by a rising demand for aluminium packaging for delivery services, pet food and coffee capsules.
Despite the positive development, the market situation remains challenging in some areas. Demand remains weak, particularly in technical applications, such as in the automotive and construction industries. In particular, high construction costs and declining construction activity are putting pressure on the market for thicker films, while the automotive sector also continues to struggle with weak demand.
Bruno Rea, Chairman of the EAFA Roller Group, explains: ‘The significant recovery in 2024 is a positive signal for our industry. We can see that the market dynamics are improving, particularly in the packaging sector. However, the pre-crisis level has not yet been reached. We expect that it will take at least another year and continuous growth rates to return to pre-pandemic levels.’
Further developments depend on the stability of the economic environment, particularly in the technological sectors characterized by uncertainty. Increasing international tariff barriers are likely to slow the export rate of aluminium foil. It remains uncertain to what extent domestic demand be able to compensate for these obstacles.
The European aluminium foil industry is therefore proving resilient and benefiting from recovering demand.
