Challenging year for aluminium foil
Bar ohne Namen
Entschlossen verweigert sich Savage, der Bar einen Namen zu geben. Stattdessen sind drei klassische Design-Symbole das Logo der Trinkstätte in Dalston: ein gelbes Quadrat, ein rotes Viereck, ein blauer Kreis. Am meisten wurmt den sympathischen Franzosen dabei, dass es kein Gelbes-Dreieck-Emoji gibt. Das erschwert auf komische Weise die Kommunikation. Der Instagram Account lautet: a_bar_with_shapes-for_a_name und anderenorts tauchen die Begriffe ‘Savage Bar’ oder eben ‚Bauhaus Bar‘ auf.
Für den BCB bringt Savage nun sein Barkonzept mit und mixt für uns mit Unterstützung von Russian Standard Vodka an der perfekten Bar dazu.
2023 market review of European aluminium foil
In 2023, the European aluminium foil industry experienced a challenging market in all segments, characterised by a decline in demand both domestically and abroad. According to the latest figures from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), total deliveries fell by 14.6% compared to the previous year, with exports recording a decline of 22%. This development reflected the generally weak market conditions, which were characterised by a combination of high stock levels and low demand across all industries and end applications.
Despite the challenges, however, there is cautious confidence in the industry, supported by a slight increase in market demand and lower rates of return.
Bruno Rea, Chairman of EAFA Roller Group, comments: “While uncertain economic conditions and continuing supply chain issues, such as disruption in the Red Sea, do not make these results unexpected, they are, nevertheless, not what the industry wants to see continuing for too long. As customer stock levels are now at very low levels there is very cautious optimism in the sector supported by market demand slightly picking up since Q1. Lower interest rates and stabilising economic circumstances certainly help to stimulate the strengthening demand further.”
Challenges in all aluminium foil segments
Even thinner foils, which are mainly used for flexible packaging and household films, recorded an almost 16% decline in shipments compared to the previous year, with exports being particularly hard hit. Domestic deliveries in the final quarter of 2022 also remained well below the previous year's level, albeit slightly better than in the third quarter, and fell by 13% for the year as a whole.
Volumes for thicker aluminium foil, which is used for semi-rigid containers, technical applications or other purposes, recorded a decline of 12% in 2023. Exports fell by 4%, while shipments within Europe were also 13% lower than in the previous year. The decline was particularly striking in the fourth quarter of 2023, when shipments of these thicker films fell by 20%, accompanied by a drastic drop in exports of more than 40%. However, this product category accounts for a smaller share of total production, which therefore had less of an impact on overall output figures.
Interestingly, even films for technical applications such as automotive and construction applications recorded the worst sales in the fourth quarter of 2023. This points to a general decline in the production of cars and construction due to ongoing difficulties in the supply chain and low demand, exacerbated by continued high interest rates.
