The European aluminium value chain is one of Europe’s most complete and thriving raw materials sectors, with over 600 plants across 30 European countries. Serving six out of the EU’s fourteen industrial ecosystems, the European aluminium industry plays a key enabling role in realising the European Green Deal.
Key Facts & Figures
100
+
European Aluminium members
600
+
plants across Europe (EU, EFTA, UK, Turkey)
€
2.1
billion in European investments
9
million tonnes – yearly European demand for primary aluminium
18
million tonnes - the forecasted total European demand for aluminium in 2050
Industry & Market Data
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Industry overview
Primary production
Aluminium exports
A thriving and complete European value chain
Europe has a well established and complete aluminium value chain; from mining to reycling.
Discover which plants are located in your country by using the map below!
Our members are a mix of multinationals and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While multinationals often own smelters and rolling mills, the vast majority of the extrusion and recycling plants are SMEs. All serve as important actors within local communities.
Europe increasingly relies on aluminium imports
To meet the growing demand for aluminium, more and more is imported from third countries. This is because European producers are struggling to remain competitive due to the high energy prices and an unlevel playingfield for trade. Below you can see an overview of Europe's aluminium supply broken down into three sections: imports, European secondary alumininium production (recycling) and
European primary aluminium production.
One thing is clear: Europe cannot afford to become more dependent on unreliable trade materials for a material that is a critical component in virtually all low-carbon technologies: from batteries to electric vehicles and wind and solar power to energy-efficient buildings.
Increasing and preserving the capacity of Europe’s low-carbon primary aluminium production and world-class recycling
sector is the only way to meet growing demand and overcome import dependencies.
European primary aluminium production is in decline despite a growing demand
Aluminium demand has been growing exponentially since the 1950s, when aluminium was increasingly used in the public sector. Today, more and more aluminium is needed to supply Europe's green and digital transition. European aluminium demand for clean technologies alone will increase from 14 million tonnes in 2020 to 21 million tonnes in 2050, with electric vehicles, solar power, and electricity networks as the main growth drivers.
Despite the growing demand, we are experiencing decreased investment in European smelters and subsequent closures due to high electricity costs and a challenging regulatory environment since the 2000s. Investors are discouraged due to low predictability in the environmental regulatory landscape and the lack of access to affordable and green electricity.
As you can see in the graph below, China, on the other hand, grew rapidly from just 5% of global production to nearly 60% today.
It produces more aluminium than it consumes and has flooded the world market with its overcapacity. This state-subsidised overproduction has allowed them to under-price their products and dump them on the European market.
High energy prices lead to curtailments and closures of European smelters
Since 2008, the EU has lost 30% of its primary production capacity, despite steadily growing demand for aluminium in Europe and globally. Below you can see the evolution of the EU's primary aluminium production and smelters.
Europe’s unique regulatory framework is central to the downward trend visible in the graph. However, Europe's high energy prices have further spurred the loss of European production, with dramatic effects on both jobs and future investment plans and negatively impacting the EU’s overall strategic autonomy and climate-neutrality ambitions.
After the COVID crisis (2020-2023), European aluminium witnessed a staggering loss of 52% (around 1 million tonnes) in primary aluminium production capacity.
These losses can be replaced by the increased production in China, with a carbon footprint almost three times higher than in
Europe.
Exporting our sustainable aluminium across the globe
European aluminium producers can count on a strong reputation thanks to their sought-after sustainable and innovative products. Below, you can see an overview of the destinations, value and volume of our flat-rolled products and extrusion exports in 2023. The purple map on the right shows the value and volume of European aluminium exports within the EU and to UK and EFTA. The blue map on the right, captures the volume and value of exports to other (global) destinations.
Exports of scrap: a valuable secondary raw material
Since 2002, EU has been a net exporter of aluminium scrap (HS 7602) year-on-year, with a peak in 2023. In total, more than 1.13 million tonnes of scrap were exported in 2023, this is an 18% increase in volume compared to 2022.
Below you can see an overview of the destinations for the EU's scrap exports in 2023.
Aluminium scrap is not only a valuable secondary raw material but also an energy bank. Recycling aluminium takes only 5% of energy compared to primary alumininiu production.
To reduce the aluminium's
industry’s energy demand and help it reach full circularity, policy measures should incentivise the uptake of scrap in Europe.
A thriving and complete European value chain
Europe has a well established and complete aluminium value chain; from mining to reycling.
Discover which plants are located in your country by using the map below!
Our members are a mix of multinationals and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While multinationals often own smelters and rolling mills, the vast majority of the extrusion and recycling plants are SMEs. All serve as important actors within local communities.
Europe increasingly relies on aluminium imports
To meet the growing demand for aluminium, more and more is imported from third countries. This is because European producers are struggling to remain competitive due to the high energy prices and an unlevel playingfield for trade. Below you can see an overview of Europe's aluminium supply broken down into three sections: imports, European secondary alumininium production (recycling) and
European primary aluminium production.
One thing is clear: Europe cannot afford to become more dependent on unreliable trade materials for a material that is a critical component in virtually all low-carbon technologies: from batteries to electric vehicles and wind and solar power to energy-efficient buildings.
Increasing and preserving the capacity of Europe’s low-carbon primary aluminium production and world-class recycling
sector is the only way to meet growing demand and overcome import dependencies.
Our Competitive Edge
A low carbon footprint
The carbon footprint of Europe’s primary production process is much lower than the global average, with only 6.8 kg of CO2 emissions compared to the global average of 16.1 kg CO2 per kg of aluminium produced. We have already reduced the carbon intensity of primary aluminium production by 50% since 1990. Our semi-fabrication and recycling processes have equally reduced their carbon intensity, making us a best-in-class producer. But we don’t stop there: we are committed to reaching carbon-neutrality by 2050.
A holistic sustainability approach
In 2015, the European aluminium industry already incorporated a holistic approach to sustainability in its Sustainability Roadmap. Our members apply the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards across the entire aluminium value chain, from sourcing raw materials to managing end-of-life products.
Innovation champions
Our companies are innovation catalysts for circular economy, decarbonisation, and disruptive technologies. We are investing over two billion euros into research and innovation to achieve our sustainability targets and participate in multiple EU-funded innovation projects with other sectors.
A complete value chain – from A to Z
There is an established and complete aluminium value chain in Europe, with more than 600 plants ranging from raw materials (e.g. bauxite and alumina), primary metal production, semi-fabrication (e.g. rolling and extrusion), and recycling. A complete value chain enables us to withstand external shocks and provide the strategic goods, skills, industrial know-how, and technologies Europe needs to reach its sustainability objectives and maintain industrial leadership.
