During the third quarter the sales of aluminium foil kept stable while the sales during the first nine months slightly increased by 1.4 percent. According to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) Q3 sales reached 211,900 tons compared to 211,700 tons in the third quarter 2006. Nine months sales went up to 663,900 tons from 654,900 in 2006.

The total sales which are still on record level had a decreased growth rate due to lower exports which reduced by eight percent from January until September. The usage inside the EAFA region increased by 1.1 % in the third quarter and by 3.3 percent in the first three quarters of 2007.

The very positive growth of thicker materials mainly used for containers and technical applications of the last quarters continued also in the past three months with an increase of over six percent. The sales of thinner gauges were stable over the first three quarters of 2007.

“The demand inside the EAFA region continues on a very high level. The European foil rollers expect the positive trend to continue also in 2008”, commented EAFA Executive Director Stefan Glimm the outlook.

Approximately three quarters of aluminium foil is used in packaging where its characteristics of strength, formability and barrier properties have made it an essential part of many flexible packaging and container applications. Other uses of aluminium foil include automotive and other heat exchange components, insulation material and other industrial applications.

The European Aluminium Foil Association is the international body representing companies engaged in the rolling and rewinding of alufoil and in the manufacture of alufoil containers and of all kind of flexible packaging. Its more than 120 members include companies in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.