Deliveries of aluminium foil have made a bright start in the first quarter of 2014, according to EAFA, the European Aluminium Foil Association. In particular, exports from Europe recorded an "excellent" increase compared with the same period in 2013.
Overall foil production during the first quarter reached 219,000 tonnes (2013: 208,000 tonnes), an increase of 5.5%. After a slowdown through most of last year there was a welcome return to growth for thicker gauges, used typically for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, which saw a 10% improvement on the first three months of 2013. Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils, added 3.3% to continue the steady recovery seen for most of last year.
In Europe the still slow, but improving, economic situation led to a 2.2% increase in production to 193,000 tonnes. Markets outside Europe, where economic activity is increasing sharply, accounted for shipments 26,000 tonnes (2013: 19,000 tonnes).
EAFA executive director Stefan Glimm comments: "This is a highly pleasing set of figures following the challenging year just ended. The outlook is increasingly optimistic and every quarter of growth gives us more confidence in the recovery."
But he cautions: "Some markets are still fragile, so we remain vigilant and have grown accustomed to responding quickly to changes in order to meet customers' requirements".
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