At the start of September 2025, primary aluminium is trading on the London Metal Exchange at a fairly narrow range of USD 2,591.75 per tonne to USD 2,606 per tonne. While primary aluminium prices influence global trade dynamics, the downstream market of sheets, foils, and cans demonstrates the metal’s broader economic significance across packaging, construction, transport, and consumer industries.
Aluminium sheets is considered as one of the most common rolled forms of the metal. Light, durable and resistant to corrosion, they are cut into body panels for cars, roofing and cladding for buildings, and even kitchen appliances. Foil takes on a different role. Thin and ductile, it wraps food, protects medicines and, more recently, lines lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.
Cans, meanwhile, dominate the drinks industry. They are easy to carry, strong enough for transport, and can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Together, these three uses explain why aluminium is described by manufacturers as both practical and sustainable.
Global market growth
Industry estimates put the combined market for aluminium sheets, foils and cans at 1.7 million tonnes in 2024. By 2033, that figure could rise to 2.5 million tonnes, with annual growth of just under 4 per cent, according to sources.
.Analysts attribute the rise to a mix of changing consumer behaviour and industrial needs. People are drinking more canned energy drinks and craft beers. Governments are squeesing out single-use plastics. Car makers and airlines are looking for lighter materials to cut fuel costs and meet climate targets. Construction companies, too, are leaning on aluminium for greener buildings.
Policy shifts and new investments
Governments and companies are both active in reshaping supply. In March 2025, India raised provisional anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil coming in from China, increasing the levy from USD 619 to USD 873 per tonne.
The measure covers foil up to 80 microns thick, although very thin non-capacitor foils are exempt. That same month, Swiss group 3A Composites — best known for ALUCOBOND® cladding — added a new solid sheet product called ALUCODUAL® to its range. In India, Shyam Metalics & Energy announced a year earlier that it would build a flat-rolled aluminium plant in Odisha. The INR 450-crore investment is intended to narrow supply gaps and secure feedstock for foil production.
Automotive industry: a key driver
The auto industry has become one of aluminium’s biggest customers. The global market for aluminium sheet was valued at around USD 15 billion in 2024. By 2032 it is estimated to be more than double, to over USD 34 billion if current trends continue, growing at about 12 per cent a year.
Alloy sheets are used in hoods, doors, roofs and chassis parts, helping to cut vehicle weight while maintaining strength. Electric vehicles are magnifying this demand, since aluminium helps offset heavy batteries and extends driving range. Tesla is one of the best-known examples of a manufacturer using aluminium extensively in its models. Asia-Pacific now accounts for more than a third of global consumption, led by China and India, while Europe and North America are also expanding use as environmental rules tighten.
Foils, batteries and recycling
Foil is also gaining importance in the shift to electric mobility. Lithium-ion batteries use aluminium foil as a key component, creating a fast-growing new market. Recycling strengthens the case further. Producing secondary aluminium uses only a small fraction of the energy needed for primary smelting. For industries under pressure to reduce emissions, that is a decisive advantage.
Packaging and food service
Food and beverage packaging is another area where aluminium is thriving. The foil packaging market was worth roughly USD 42.6 billion in 2024. Analysts expect it to climb to USD 73.6 billion by 2035, with growth of just over 5 per cent a year.
Foil’s ability to block light, moisture and oxygen makes it vital in aseptic cartons, pet food, ready meals and pharmaceutical packs. Demand has been rising with the growth of takeaway food and online delivery. Disposable foil containers form a smaller but fast-growing part of the market.
As per sources, valued at USD 3.5 billion in 2024, they could reach USD 5.2 billion by 2033, helped by their heat resistance, convenience and recyclability. In total, aluminium packaging — which includes cans, cartons and containers — was worth USD 99.6 billion in 2024 and could expand to USD 165.5 billion by 2032, a growth rate of around 6.7 per cent a year.
Who leads the production?
China remains the world’s largest producer by far, turning out about 43 million tonnes of aluminium in 2024 — nearly 60 per cent of global output. It also leads in sheets and foils, accounting for more than 60 per cent of foil supply. Its sheets and coils market, valued at USD 22.7 billion in 2024, is forecast to grow at close to 6 per cent annually over the next decade. The country’s major producers include China Hongqiao Group, Chalco, Yunnan Aluminium and East Group.
India holds second place with 4.2 million tonnes in 2024, led by companies such as Hindalco and Vedanta. Growth is being fuelled mainly by demand from auto and construction. Russia, meanwhile, produced about 3.8 million tonnes through Rusal. Despite sanctions, it remains a significant supplier of rolled products for packaging and transport.
In the US and Europe, firms such as Alcoa and Norsk Hydro are key suppliers of high-grade aluminium sheets and foils, especially for aerospace and automotive uses. Both regions are investing heavily in recycled metal to cut carbon footprints. The Middle East, too, has a strong presence, with Emirates Global Aluminium producing more than 2.6 million tonnes a year and exporting to markets worldwide.
As industries worldwide push for lighter, greener, and more efficient materials, aluminium sheets, foils, and cans are set to remain at the centre of both industrial progress and sustainable consumer solutions.
Source：AL Circle