European deliveries of aluminum foil totaled 930,700mt in 2020, slightly lower than 933,100mt in 2019, according to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).
Bruno Rea, president, EAFA, said in a statement on Tuesday that the foil sector is doing better than some other parts of the aluminum industry. He expects a steady recovery in 2021 as well.
The association noted that while domestic shipments fell by 0.5pc annually, exports from the EU increased by 0.8pc in 2020 compared to the previous year. Production of thinner foils, used in household and packaging applications, increased by 2.1pc, offsetting a 4.3pc decline in thicker gauges which are used in semi-rigid containers and other technical applications.
During Q4 2020, European foil production rose by 2.9pc to 224,300mt against 218,000mt in the same quarter in 2019.
The EAFA stated that it is looking forward to the EU Commission’s antidumping investigation results on imports of aluminum convertor foil from China, which are due in May.