Demand for aluminium packaging remains stable

Demand for aluminium packaging remained stable in Germany last year with 401,300 tonnes of foils, tubes, aerosols and beverage cans produced overall.

This meant aluminium packaging manufacturers were producing almost at the high level of the previous year (2010: 405,000 tonnes).

“Even though there was a one per cent decline in production, the reasons behind it had more to do with technical factors,” explains Christian Wellner, managing director of German-based trade association Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA). As a trade association GDA represents the interests of the aluminium industry in Germany.

Thinner aluminium foils and a trend towards lighter packaging led to smaller deliveries. Despite the slight decline in demand at the start of 2012, caused by weak economic activity in the euro zone, utilisation of capacity among exporting companies remains good. “Because of unpredicatble fiscal and currency factors in Europe, and drastic cuts in some European countries, many budgets for 2012 were planned with caution,” adds Wellner.

Generally, production developed stably in the individual packaging segments last year. Demand for aluminium tubes was high. There was an increase in beverage can production. The inland markets for aluminium foils and thin strips declined slightly, because of reductions in material. Manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans were again able to grow considerably, and achieved a new record in production.

Manufacturers of aluminium packaging remain confident about the outlook for 2012.

“As before, we continue to expect stable development, because forecasts for the major markets of aluminium packaging are at the levels of the previous year. However, the periods being planned at the moment are shorter. So our outlook only extends to roughly mid-year,” says Manfred Mertens, chairman of the GDA trade association for aluminium foils.

The branch is also happy with developments in the area of beverage cans, with supermarkets again including them in their listings.

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