Short term delivery requests affecting aluminium foil manufacturers, says EAFA

Short term delivery requests are continuing to affect production and planning of European manufacturers, according to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

The year ended with total production of aluminium foil products up 2.1% at 818,400t compared to 2011 levels of 801,600t and deliveries in the fourth quarter were 5% up compared with Q4 2011.

Manfred Mertens, EAFA Vice-President and Roller Group chairman, said:“Requests for short term deliveries continue to affect production planning and European aluminium foil manufacturers must continue to be flexible and react to market changes quickly.”

The industry association, which counts Amcor, AMPAC Flexibles, Novelis and Wipak among its members, said it had a cautious but optimistic outlook for 2013.