Europe light weight aluminum foil market stable in 2013, outlook favorable

The European aluminum foil market was stable but mainly level in 2013, with output bordering up from 2012 degrees, according to figures released by the European Aluminium Aluminum Foil Association.

" The overview for 2014 is seen encouragingly, with a general recovery in demand expected to collect speed both in Europe and overseas," EAFA said.

Last outcome figures for the year were 842,700 mt, 0.3% ahead of 2012's production of 840,600 mt, although fourth-quarter outcome of 199,800 mt was down by 3.3% from a year earlier.

" Shipments of thinner evaluates, used greatly for flexible product packaging and also family aluminum foils, stayed positive throughout 2013, although the strong growth figures seen in the first fifty percent of the year did not continue into the 2nd," EAFA claimed.

The decline popular for thicker gauges, utilized typically for semi-rigid containers and also technological applications, continued into the 4th quarter, mostly caused by ongoing unpredictability in construction and also technical markets as well as depressed need from overseas, it included.

After a brilliant beginning to the year, exports trailed off, falling by 0.3% year-on-year as financial unpredictability in some markets delayed financial investment plans. Thinner evaluates raised deliveries by 1.1% compared to 2012, while thicker gauges tape-recorded a decline of 1.1%, EAFA kept in mind.

" After such a solid begin to 2013 it was a little frustrating that the trend did not continue through the remainder of the year. But the slower-than-expected financial recuperation in southerly Europe and several of our essential export markets kept back demand, especially for thicker gauges," said Manfred Mertens, EAFA's vice president and also roller group chairman.

" Oilfield Chemicals see clear indicators that the activity in 2014 is boosting in all locations for both slim and also thicker gauges. So we remain to be carefully optimistic that markets are recuperating constantly," Mertens said. "It must not be neglected either that thinner scale distributions increased throughout 2013, despite the challenging market problems."