First-quarter production of aluminium foil dropped 0.2% to 244,700 tonnes as the decline in exports outweighed the strong domestic demand, according to industry group European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA, Düsseldorf, Germany; www.alufoil.org). Domestic market demand rose 5%, while exports fell 27%.

Restocking in the retail sector buoyed European demand, particularly for the thinner gauges, which advanced nearly 9%. This figure is remarkably higher than the 6% seen in Q4 2021 and the overall 3% expansion last year. Thin gauge foils are used for flexible packaging and other kitchen applications. Outside-Europe deliveries fell about 25%.

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Thicker gauges, used for semi-rigid containers, technical or other applications, dipped 1.5% in Europe and 30% elsewhere, due to weaker demand in some technical areas and stock adjustment. Including the export figures, total demand for thinner gauges rose 2.4% while thicker gauges shrank 4.6%.

EAFA said the figures indicate a strong temporary recovery of the European economies and uncertainties about future developments. Foil production is expected to remain at a high level over the rest of the year, it said. But headwinds could come from external disruptions, global logistic-chain issues, further rises in energy costs and higher inflation.