In the ongoing legislative process on critical raw materials (CRMA), the European Parliament decided on 14 September to include aluminium on the list of strategic raw materials. Previously, the European Council had also included aluminium in its position.

Rob van Gils, President of Aluminium Deutschland, emphasises: "It is right and important that the Parliament also recognises the importance of aluminium for the Green Deal. Many technologies and goods that are indispensable for the transformation contain large quantities of aluminium. In the trilogue negotiations that now follow and in the final law, it is essential that decision-makers continue to recognise this central role of our material."

A member survey conducted by Aluminium Deutschland shows that the supply and price situation on the energy markets remains poor for about half of the companies. Every seventh company said that the situation had even worsened. For the coming months, 40 percent expect the situation to tighten, in some cases significantly. In addition, three-quarters of the respondents assess the competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location as low or very low. No company rates it as high or very high. In addition to capacity cuts (37 percent), 31 percent of the companies are forced to introduce short-time work. Another 18 percent are cutting jobs and 8 percent are relocating parts of their production abroad.

Rob van Gils continues: "While aluminium is essential for transformation, the German aluminium industry is in a tangible crisis. We are seeing significant declines in the order books. This contradicts the political goal of making Europe greener and more resilient. Three quarters of the world's primary aluminium is produced in China, Russia and the Middle East – with all the consequences for Germany's and Europe's security of supply. That is why I appeal to common sense in Berlin. The people there must urgently find a way to defuse the situation until green energy is available nationwide and cheaply.”

Original source: Aluminium Deutschland