Strong demand from overseas aluminium foil markets in the final quarter of 2017 saw aluminium foil deliveries from European foil rollers reach a new record tonnage for the full year, according to figures released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). Overall deliveries for the full twelve-month period were at 886,300 t (2016: 874,900 t), even higher than pre-crisis levels for the second year running.

Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils added 1.8 % year on year, while thicker gauges, used typically for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, slightly increased by 0.3 %. Total domestic deliveries were ahead by 0.6 % in the period, while exports improved strongly, by 5.7 %.

The final three months of 2017 saw deliveries to non-European markets increase by 37.2 %, with domestic deliveries going down by 2.2 %. After a buoyant 2016, demand for thicker gauges has climbed by 1.0 %, whereas deliveries of thinner gauges have gone up by 2.8 %. At 214,800 t in total, Q4 deliveries were 2.2 % ahead.