By Athanasios Adamopoulos

 

The aluminum sector enjoys significantly positive outlook being at the forefront of demand for high-growth sectors such as auto industry, electric cars, construction and packaging.

 

Particularly in the packaging sector, aluminum prospects are significant because of a strong demand resulting from the product's cyclical and fully recycling nature.

 

Beyond these, very favorable is the outlook for products manufactured for sectors such as cooling, heating and shipbuilding.

 

Based on the latest figures released by Hellenic Statistical Authority, aluminum exports jumped 35% in 2022 totaling 2.895 billion euros, compared with 2021, accounting for around 5.3% of total Greek exports. This performance ranks the aluminum sector as the second biggest exporter of the country, with a trade balance of 890 million euros in 2022, up 9% from the previous year.

 

Μοre specifically, sales of precast aluminum in 2022 exceeded 195,000 tons, slightly down from 2021. Domestic sales -accounting for 48% of total sales- eased 3.8%, while exports grew around 2% representing the remaining 52% of total sales.

 

Sales of first cast products remained unchanged at 2021 levels, rising by 3%, with exports rising by 5%. The sub-sector, enjoying very high quality standards and state of the aart production lines, is the most extrovert sector, with 84% of production exported to international markets.

 

Rolling product sales grew 9% in 2022, with the domestic market absorbing 11% of total sales (down 3% from 2021), while exports jumped 11%. On the other hand, extrusion products fell 100% in 2022, with the domestic market absorbing 30% of total sales (down 7% from 2021), while 70% of sales was exported (down 12% over the same period).

 

In comments made to Naftemporiki, Hellenic Aluminum Union the sector includes 3,000 large, medium and small enterprises and has a workforce of 30,000. Greek aluminum companies with established presence in international markets, have privately-owned distribution networks and commercial activities in more than 50 countries around the world.