Aluminium foil shipments went up by 3.5 percent in the first nine months of 2006 reaching 660,700 tonnes (2005: 638,100 tonnes), thus showing a much better growth than the previous year. Demand was driven mainly by thicker gauges with plus 5.8 percent, while thinner gauges grew by 2.9 percent.
Exports to regions outside the EAFA region* were up by 1.9 percent in the first nine months showing a positive trend as well.
The third quarter comparison shows in spite of the summer period a 3.1 percent increase to 215,100 tonnes (2005: 208,600 tonnes). Thicker gauges grew by 8 percent and clearly outperformed in this encouraging overall development. They are mostly used for container and technical applications.
This positive trend is expected to continue for the coming months what shows the strong role of aluminium foil in today's and tomorrow's packaging markets? commented Fred McDonogh, newly elected EAFA President, the outlook for the future.
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.
The number of new products that feature innovative uses of alufoil based packaging indicates a healthy future for the material. Other uses of aluminium foil include automotive and other heat exchange components, insulation material and other industrial applications. The European Aluminium Foil Association is the international body representing companies engaged in the rolling and rewinding of alufoil and in the manufacture of alufoil containers and of all kind of flexible packaging. Its more than 120 members include companies in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.
* EAFA region covers EU15, Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey
豫公网安备41010502003434号