Author: Paul Ploumis20 Aug 2014 Last updated at 02:55:00 GMT

BRUSSELS (Scrap Monster): According to most recent data published by the European Aluminum Foil Association (EAFA), the region’s aluminum foil production was up 2.5% during the first half of the current year, in comparison with the corresponding period last year. The export demand spiked up during this period, the Association noted.

As per Association data, the European aluminum foil production during the six-month period from January to June this year totaled 434,100 mt, 2.5% higher when compared with the production during the same period in 2013. The European region’s aluminum foil production during the initial half in 2013 had totaled 423,000 mt.

The demand for thinner gauges continued to increase during H1 2014. The thinner gauges have shown improvements during the past five quarters in a row. Meanwhile, deliveries of thicker gauges also rose 6.3% over the previous year during the first quarter of the year. However, demand during the second quarter witnessed a marginal drop when compared with Q3 2013.

EAFA attributes the decline in demand during Q2 to seasonal factors. However, it predicts strong growth to continue throughout the year across sectors.

According to EAFA, the export volumes of aluminum foil surged higher by 28% during the first half of the year. On the other hand, the domestic deliveries slipped marginally by 0.2% over the previous year.