Consumption of aluminum products has a high of 7.5% in the first semester

Domestic consumption of aluminum products grew 7.5% in the first half of 2019, when compared to the same period last year. The total commercialized volume reached 731,800 tonnes – 626,100 tonnes of national origin and 105,700 tonnes imported. The figures show that the national market maintains the recovery trend recorded in 2018. The survey is part of the market research promoted by the Brazilian Association of Aluminum (ABAL). The packaging segment is the one that pulls the queue of ascension, with a two-digit growth in the period: 11.1%. This good performance reflects the high consumption of aluminum plates, used in the manufacture of packaging. The product recorded a volume of 349,600 tonnes in the first semester, a 16% increase compared to last year. For the president of ABAL, Milton Rego, is the packaging segment that should continue to sustain the growth of the sector in the coming years. Maintained the current pace, Milton predicts that the consumption of aluminum products is resumed already at the end of this year or at the beginning of 2020, reaching the figure of 1.5 million tons – level already achieved in 2013. "We even imagined a bigger growth this first semester. But despite the downward review, our recovery follows consistently, "he says. In the first half of 2019, the trade balance of the Brazilian aluminum industry maintained surplus – US $781 million FOB, with exports of US $1.794 billion and imports of US $1.013 billion. The highlights were the revenues from alumina exports.