The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) has published figures on the development of the European aluminium foil market in the first quarter of 2026. According to them, European aluminium foil manufacturers recorded a declining start to the year, with demand stabilising slightly over the course of the quarter.
The total deliveries by EAFA member companies in the first quarter of 2026 amounted to around 225,000 tonnes. This represents a decrease of 6.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. According to the organisation, delivery volumes remain below the average values of the years before 2020.
Demand in Europe shows initial signs of stabilising.
Within Europe, deliveries decreased by 4.3 percent in the first quarter. While demand was still significantly under pressure at the beginning of the year, March in particular showed a more positive development than the two preceding months. According to EAFA, impulses primarily came from the flexible packaging sector. Declines in individual product segments, including applications related to chocolate products, were partly offset by stable or increasing demand in other areas such as dairy products.
A recovery was also observed in household foils in March. Furthermore, demand for foils for technical applications increased slightly. The EAFA sees this in the context of cautious expectations of a stabilisation in key customer industries, including the European automotive industry. Positive impetus could come in particular from the e-mobility sector.
Export business under pressure
The export business developed significantly weaker. Deliveries outside of Europe fell by 24.2 percent in the first quarter. The EAFA cites increasing competitive pressure from Asian suppliers and trade policy measures such as US import duties as the main causes. Additionally, the escalation of the conflict involving Iran since March has contributed to further uncertainties.
The analysis by material thickness shows a nuanced picture. Thinner films, used primarily in packaging and household applications, recorded a decrease of 5.9 percent within Europe. Thicker films for container and technical applications developed comparatively stably with a minus of 1.6 percent. Overall, the developments over the quarter indicated a gradual stabilisation.
EAFA expects a stable year.
„Despite geopolitical uncertainties and changing cost structures, European foil manufacturers continue to supply their customers in Europe reliably,“ explained Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of the EAFA. He added that a more positive development is expected in the second and third quarters. In spite of the overall weak start to the year and the new conflict in the Gulf region, which is weighing on global trade, the organisation expects aluminium foil deliveries from European manufacturers to remain stable for the year as a whole.
Source: EAFA
