IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Aluminium Tubes, Pipes And Tube Or Pipe Fittings – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2019, after two years of growth, there was a decline in the EU aluminium tube market, when its value decreased by -1.9% to $1.4B. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the market value increased by 9.4% y-o-y. As a result, consumption reached a peak level of $1.4B, and then shrank slightly in the following year.

Consumption by Country

Germany (55K tonnes) remains the largest aluminium tube consuming country in the European Union, accounting for 22% of total volume. Moreover, aluminium tube consumption in Germany exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, Italy (27K tonnes), twofold. The Netherlands (26K tonnes) ranked third in terms of total consumption with a 10% share.

In Germany, aluminium tube consumption increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% over the period from 2013-2019. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of consumption growth: Italy (+5.0% per year) and the Netherlands (+14.6% per year).

In value terms, the largest aluminium tube markets in the European Union were Germany ($271M), the Netherlands ($161M) and the Czech Republic ($155M), together comprising 43% of the total market.

Production in the EU

In 2019, after six years of growth, there was a decline in the production of aluminium tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, when its volume decreased by -4.7% to 190K tonnes. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.2% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years.

Production by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of aluminium tube production in 2019 were Italy (44K tonnes), Germany (28K tonnes) and Belgium (24K tonnes), together comprising 51% of total production. The Netherlands, Denmark, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, the UK, Romania and Croatia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 43%.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of aluminium tube production, amongst the leading producing countries, was attained by Portugal, while aluminium tube production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports in the EU

In 2019, shipments abroad of aluminium tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings decreased by -10.8% to 168K tonnes for the first time since 2016, thus ending a two-year rising trend. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when exports increased by 10% y-o-y. As a result, exports attained a peak of 188K tonnes, and then contracted in the following year. In value terms, aluminium tube exports dropped to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

Exports by Country

In 2019, Germany (37K tonnes), distantly followed by Belgium (24K tonnes), Italy (24K tonnes), Denmark (18K tonnes), Bulgaria (10K tonnes), the Czech Republic (8.4K tonnes), Poland (8.4K tonnes) and the Netherlands (7.6K tonnes) were the largest exporters of aluminium tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, together creating 82% of total exports. The following exporters – Spain (5.4K tonnes) and Austria (5.1K tonnes) – each reached a 6.3% share of total exports.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Belgium, while exports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($415M) remains the largest aluminium tube supplier in the European Union, comprising 32% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Italy ($142M), with an 11% share of total exports. It was followed by Belgium, with a 9.1% share.

Export Prices by Country

The aluminium tube export price in the European Union stood at $7,647 per tonne in 2019, rising by 6.4% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 9.8% against the previous year. The level of export peaked at $7,662 per tonne in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2019, export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Germany ($11,292 per tonne), while Bulgaria ($3,260 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform