The German aluminium industry posted a slight increase in production in the first quarter after output fell through 2024, but remains under pressure and in need of energy price relief as well as a ‘reliable framework' for growth, industry association Aluminium Deutschland said this week.
Germany produced 703,000t of recycled aluminium in the first three months of this year, up just 3pc from the corresponding period last year, while output of semi-finished aluminium products edged up by 1pc to 576,000t, the first quarter of growth recorded after 11 consecutive quarters of declining production. Rolled aluminium product production rose 2pc to 456,00t, while extruded product output fell by 2pc to 121,000t.
Last year, recycled aluminium production fell 2pc to 2.74mn t, while semi-finished product output dropped 3pc to 2.26mn t.
Despite the overall increase in output in the first quarter of this year, there was no sign of significantly improved demand, with much of the increase attributed to restocking amid low aluminium prices.
"There is no sign of any easing — extruders even experienced another decline. Demand remains weak," Aluminium Deutschland president Rob van Gils said. "Many customers replenished their inventories due to the lower aluminium price in the first quarter. This supported demand in the short term."
Germany is under a new government coalition of its main centre-right and left parties, which signed an agreement early this month almost six weeks after a snap election in February which followed the collapse of the previous administration. Aluminium Deutschland has called upon the new government to swiftly address the needs of the aluminium sector.
"The promised signal of change in the coalition agreement must finally come," van Gils said. "Germany is at risk of being without growth in 2025 as well. Industry needs a reduction in energy prices and a reliable framework for investment and growth — this is the only right response to the return of the sick man of Europe."
