After its successful first half-year in 2011, again at the beginning of the second half-year the German aluminium industry continues the positive trend. Even though the dynamic growth has weakened noticeably, from January to August production has risen on all levels. The branch remains optimistic overall that it can maintain this good level during the second half-year of 2011.

From January to August 2011, overall production of raw aluminium rose by 1 per cent to 672,493 tonnes. While output quantity of secondary aluminium smelters declined by 7 per cent to 382,276 tonnes, at 13 per cent, production of primary aluminium producers rose strongly during the same period.

From January to August 2011, compared to the same period last year it was also possible to raise the amount of semi-finished aluminium products produced by around 2 per cent to 1,686,397 tonnes, even though in 2010 this was already above the level of 2008.

In 2010 production volume in aluminium finishing was at 421,300 tonnes, and with that was 15 per cent higher than the previous year. At 3 per cent, growth also continued in the first eight months of 2011.

“Growth impulses have slackened at a high level in recent weeks and other expectations on business have been somewhat stifled.  However, the situation in the German aluminium industry remains positive. The difficulties in the banking and financial sector do not automatically lead to a deterioration in our merchandise markets“, commented GDA Managing Director Christian Wellner on developments in the second quarter 2011.