Düsseldorf - Evidence that recessionary influences are softening, particularly for the thinner aluminium foil used in packaging, can be found in production figures for 2009 released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

Grounds for optimism could be found in particular in the figures for the last quarter of 2009 which provided evidence that the use of thinner alufoil gauges were fairing well. Mainly used in flexible packaging applications and for household foil, figures were up by 11.3 percent compared with the last quarter of 2008. Overall 2009 production figures for thinner gauges showed a slight increase of 0.3 percent on 2008.

At 768,600 t total members' alufoil production for 2009 was 5 percent down on 2008, but the final quarter of 2009 showed some signs of recovery at 199,400 t, a rise of 9.3 percent on the same period in 2008. Within these figures, the news for thicker gauges, used for container applications and in automotive, building and other industrial sectors, was less encouraging at 16.6 percent down on 2008. However, some signs of recovery can be found in the final quarter of 2009 with figures up 4 percent compared with the same period in 2008.

Outlining how a variety of achievements have helped EAFA member companies weather the economic storm, EAFA president François Coëffic said: "Innovation and advances in efficient production methods have help the membership best serve its customers. This, alongside our commitment to sustainable production and consumption, has proved a real enabler for EAFA companies in these difficult times.

Aluminium foil characteristics are strength, formability and barrier properties which have made it an essential part of many flexible packaging and container applications. Other uses of aluminium foil include automotive and heat exchange components, insulation material and many industrial applications.

EAFA region covers Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and UK.

Quelle: European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA)

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