The European Aluminium Foil Association reports increased demand for thin aluminium foil in the third quarter of 2002.
Whilst the total tonnage delivered during the nine months to September is level with the same period last year – 564,000t including exports – ‘home’ shipments of the thinner gauges used in flexible packaging have increased by 2.8 per cent. The difference is explained by the slowing of demand for thicker gauges, mainly used in non packaging applications.
Exports outside the area covered by EAFA members increased by 12 per cent, from 82,000 to 92,000t, compared with the third quarter of last year. EAFA’s Pierre Labat comments: “A tonnage increase of 2.8 per cent already reflects strong demand. However, bearing in mind that, due to downgauging, less and less foil is used to provide exactly the same performance in flexible laminates, real market growth is considerably higher.”
More information: Stefan Glimm – TEL: +49 (0)211 47 96 168. EMAIL: eafa@aluinfo.de WEBSITE: www.alufoil.org