Aluminium foil deliveries by European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) member companies stabilised in the second quarter of 2026, reaching around 238,000 tonnes, up 0.6% compared with the same period last year.

The result marked an improvement on the weaker first quarter, with both European deliveries and exports remaining broadly stable between April and June. Deliveries within Europe increased by 0.8% year-on-year, while exports outside Europe were down 0.6%.

June recorded the first clearly positive monthly result of the year.

The performance varied considerably between different foil gauges. Deliveries of thinner foil below 60 µm, used primarily for flexible packaging and household applications, remained slightly lower overall, while deliveries of thicker foil between 61 and 200 µm increased by more than 8% during the quarter.

The difference was particularly pronounced in export markets, where deliveries of thinner foil fell by 19%, while thicker-gauge foil recorded growth of 40%, largely offsetting weaker export demand for thinner material.

Technical applications, particularly in the automotive and building sectors, recorded growth of almost 7% in the second quarter. Foil volumes for packaging applications remained broadly stable, while demand for household foil continued to decline.

EAFA also reported signs of easing pressure in product categories including coffee and chocolate, which have recently been affected by high prices. However, uncertainty remains over the sustainability of consumer spending amid wider economic uncertainty and continuing tensions in the Middle East.

Total aluminium foil deliveries reached around 463,000 tonnes in the first half of 2026, down 3% compared with the same period last year. The improved performance in the second quarter, particularly in June, helped reduce the shortfall accumulated during the opening months of the year.

“Following the difficult start to the year, we are seeing an encouraging stabilisation in the second quarter, with significantly more positive signals emerging towards the end of the period,” says Göksal Güngör, Chair of the EAFA Roller Group. “The development in June gives us grounds for cautious optimism for the second half of the year. However, given the continuing economic and geopolitical uncertainty, we do not expect a sharp recovery, but rather a gradual strengthening of demand.”