Significant increase in demand for aluminium foil in the first quarter of 2025
European aluminium foil rollers entered 2025 with significantly increased deliveries. As the latest figures from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) show, total deliveries in the first quarter rose to 243,900 tons – an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. Both the European market and export markets recorded encouragingly high demand.
Deliveries within Europe increased by almost 11%. At the same time, exports rose by around 18%, which is attributed, among other things, to anticipatory effects in the wake of current trade policies, particularly in the Americas. Overall, the market is significantly more dynamic than in the first quarter of 2024, when total deliveries were around 219,000 tons.
Thinner aluminium foils, which are primarily used in flexible packaging and household applications, performed particularly strongly. Growth of almost 14% was recorded here – a sign of continued robust end demand in these areas. Deliveries of thicker foils, for example, for technical applications, semi-rigid containers, or industrial use, increased by almost 8%. However, the ongoing weakness in the construction and automotive markets is having a somewhat inhibiting effect in this segment.
Additional momentum came from restocking effects. Many customers increased their inventories at the beginning of the year. Despite uncertain economic conditions, resilient consumer demand is evident on the end markets and is supporting the general trend.
"The industry is very satisfied with the start to the year," says Guido Aufdemkamp, Managing Director of EAFA. "The European aluminium foil industry remains agile in these uncertain and challenging times and is helping its customers to best manage market conditions. Even though we expect some slowdown in growth towards the end of the year, we assess the current market situation as stable."
