The aluminium market - Italy (2025)

1.2 The global market

Aluminum is a silvery-white, nonmagnetic, ductile metal that plays a crucial role in modern industry and commerce. Its unique combination of light weight and exceptional strength has revolutionized industries such as aerospace and automotive, where weight reduction equals increased efficiency. Its corrosion resistance and conductivity make it critical for applications in construction and electronics. In addition, its widespread use in everyday consumer products, packaging and transportation systems underscores its relevance in modern society. Growing demand, particularly from electric vehicles and original equipment manufacturers (***), is supporting the growth of the aluminum market. During the COVID-** pandemic, prolonged slowdowns in various sectors, such as automotive, construction, electronics, home appliances and industrial machinery, led to temporary disruptions in production. Metal prices fluctuated significantly during this period. As the pandemic situation worsened, the value of aluminum declined and prices continued to fall. However, with the post-pandemic global recovery and increased demand, there was a reversal in prices, which reached all-time highs.

The value of the global aluminum market shows steady growth, rising from $***.** billion in **** to $***.** billion in ****, an increase of **.* percent over the period at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.** percent.

Global aluminum market value World, ****-****, in US$ billion FortuneBusinessInsights

Although aluminum ...

1.3 The European market

The value of the European aluminum market grows steadily from **** to ****, from $**.** billion to $**.** billion, an overall increase of **.* percent. This increase reflects continued demand, likely driven by the automotive, construction, and technology industries, which are increasingly adopting aluminum for its lightweight and sustainable characteristics.

Value of the European aluminum market Europe, ****-****, in US$ billion GrandViewResearch

In ****, Germany dominates aluminum exports in Europe with US$**.* billion, followed by Italy with US$*.** billion. France and the Netherlands rank close behind, with values of *.** billion and *.** billion, respectively. Poland, Turkey, Austria and Spain have similar shares, between *.** and *.** billion, showing a balanced distribution among major European exporters after the clear German lead. Major aluminum exporters in Europe (***) Europe, ****, in US$ billion UNComtrade

Germany is also the leading importer with US$**.* billion, highlighting its centrality in the European market. France and Italy follow with similar figures of *.** and *.** billion respectively, while the Netherlands and Turkey register *.** and *.** billion. The United Kingdom, Poland and Spain are between * and * billion, showing a distributed but significantly lower demand than Germany. Main importers of aluminum in Europe (***) Europe, ****, in US$ billion UNComtrade

1.4 The Italian market

To analyze trends in the Italian aluminum market, both the turnover of production companies from **** to **** and recent trends in the industrial production index are considered. These data allow us to assess the economic dynamics of the industry, highlighting significant changes and emerging trends.

The turnover of aluminum manufacturing companies has fluctuated significantly. After a decline between **** and ****, with a **.* percent reduction, a strong recovery (***) was observed in ****, culminating in a peak in **** with **.** billion euros. Subsequently, **** marked a **.* percent downsizing from the previous year, while estimates for **** indicate a stabilization around *.** billion euros. Overall, from **** to ****, the industry grew by ** percent.

Turnover of aluminum production companies [***] Italy, ****-****, in billion € Istat, Company Register

The industrial production index shows strong variability. After an initial increase from ** to ***.* between December **** and May ****, there is a marked contraction to **.* in August, followed by a recovery to ***.* in October. The latest data for November show a new decline to **.*, indicating an industry subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Industrial Production Index - [***] Aluminum Production Italy, ****-****, index base ****=*** Istat

1.5 Imports and Exports

Between **** and ****, Italian aluminum exports increased by **.* percent, from $*.** billion to $*.** billion, while imports showed a similar increase of **.* percent, from $*.** billion to $*.** billion. The coverage rate showed a significant change, falling below * in **** and ****, indicating imports exceeded exports, then rising again to *.** in ****.

Exports, imports and aluminum coverage rate (***) Italy, ****-****, in US$ billion UNComtrade

In ****, Germany is the main recipient of Italian aluminum exports, accounting for **.* percent of the total, followed by France with ** percent and Spain with *.* percent. Austria, Hungary and Poland together reach **.* percent, while the US and Switzerland contribute *.* percent and *.* percent respectively. The remaining **.* percent is distributed among other countries, showing a diversified market but with a strong concentration toward Central and Western Europe. Main destination countries for aluminum exports Italy, ****, in % UNComtrade

Germany also is the main supplier of aluminum to Italy, accounting for ** percent of imports, followed by France with *.* percent. India, Spain, and the UAE each contribute about * percent, while China, the Netherlands, and Egypt provide slightly smaller shares, between *.* and *.* percent. The remaining ** percent comes from a variety of other countries. Main countries of origin of aluminum imports Italy, ****, in % UNComtrade

1.6 Inflation suffered by the sector

The aluminum market in Italy has gone through a period of transformation due to inflation, which has put significant pressure on both production costs and final prices. This metal, which is essential in key sectors such as automotive, construction and packaging, has been at the center of global economic dynamics that have also directly affected the Italian context. One of the main factors affecting the market has been the steep rise in energy costs. Aluminum production requires huge amounts of energy, and Italy, which is heavily dependent on the import of gas and other energy sources, has experienced a price spike as a result of the European energy crisis. This has made local production less competitive with other countries, prompting some producers to reduce capacity or temporarily suspend operations. Inflation has also driven up the costs of raw materials, such as bauxite, and transportation. Delays in global supply chains, exacerbated by the pandemic and war in Ukraine, have made sourcing essential materials more difficult and expensive, creating additional difficulties for Italian companies. These cost pressures have inevitably transferred to final prices. Aluminum, traditionally prized for its cost-effectiveness, has seen significant price increases, putting sectors that use it extensively in difficulty. For ...

2.1 Overview of demand

The value of aluminum production sold in Italy between **** and **** showed an overall growth of **.* percent. After a decline in **** (***), the figure rose again in ****, peaking in **** at **.* billion euros. In ****, a decline of **.* percent from the previous year is observed, standing at *.** billion euros. The estimate for ****, obtained using the Istat index of industrial aluminum production, indicates a further decline.

Value of aluminum production sold [***] Italy, ****-****, in billion € Istat, Businesscoot elaboration

The aluminum category is divided into ** subcategories, and they are as follows:

[***] unwrought aluminum, unalloyed [***] unwrought aluminum, alloyed (***) [***] aluminum oxide (***) [***] aluminum powders and flakes [***] aluminum bars and profiles, unalloyed [***] bars and profiles of aluminum, alloyed [***] aluminum wire, unalloyed [***] aluminum wire, alloyed [***] aluminum sheets and strips, thicker than *.* mm, unalloyed [***] aluminum sheets and strips, thicker than *.* mm, alloyed [***] aluminum sheet and strip, of a thickness less than or equal to *.* mm (***) [***] aluminum tubes, unalloyed [***] aluminum tubes, alloyed [***] aluminum tube accessories (***) In ****, the following subcategories had these values within the market: Italian market value breakdown Italy, ****, in % Istat, Businesscoot elaboration

Aluminum production in Italy, measured in quantity, increased by **.* percent from **** to ****, from *.** to *.** million tons. After a slight decline in ****, production grew steadily through ****, with most significant increases ...

2.2 Demand drivers

The demand for aluminum is the result of a complex combination of economic, technological, environmental and geopolitical factors. Key sectors influencing this demand continue to evolve, making aluminum a strategic material for multiple applications. Sustainability and technological innovations emerge as the main drivers for the future.

*. Global Economic and Industrial Growth

GDP Growth: Global economic trends influence demand for aluminum, as it is closely linked to key industrial sectors such as automotive, construction, and aerospace. Industrialization in Emerging Countries: Growing industrialization in emerging markets such as China, India, and Southeast Asia has fueled aluminum demand for infrastructure, transportation, and consumer products.

*. Innovations and Technologies in Application Sectors

Automotive and Transportation: Lightnessand Energy Efficiency: Aluminum is preferred for its light weight, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces CO* emissions. Electric Vehicles (***): The transition to electric vehicles is increasing demand for aluminum for batteries, chassis, and structural components. Aerospace: Demand is growing for applications in aircraft and drones due to the material's combination of light weight and strength. Construction: Aluminum is widely used in modern construction for facades, fixtures, and roofing due to its corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. Packaging: The growth of sustainable and recyclable packaging is fueling the use ...

2.3 Trends in demand for aluminum

Online searches for aluminum in Italy between January **** and January **** show some variability with an initial index of **.* and final of **.*, registering an increase of *.** percent. After peaks such as that of May **** (***), interest fell, touching a low of **.* in December ****, then gradually recovering in ****. The year **** is characterized by a less pronounced trend than ****, but with fluctuations suggesting a recovery of interest at the end of the period analyzed.

The numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the graph in relation to the region and period shown. A value of *** indicates the highest frequency of search for the term; ** indicates half as many searches. A score of *, on the other hand, indicates that insufficient data were found for the term.

Trend of online searches for aluminum Italy, ****-****, index Google Trends, Businesscoot elaboration

Online searches for aluminum in Italy show a higher concentration in the southern and island regions, with Sardinia at the top (***). Northern regions such as Lombardy and Veneto are in the middle of the ranking, suggesting a heterogeneous distribution of interest across the country.

2.4 New demand trends

New trends in aluminum demand reflect a combination of economic, technological, environmental and social factors. These trends are driven by the increasing focus on sustainability, technological innovation, and transformations in major industries.

*. Growing Importance of Sustainability

Recyclability and Circular Economy: The push toward a circular economy is increasing the use of recycled aluminum (***), reducing demand for primary aluminum. Companies are integrating more recycling into their production processes to reduce CO₂ emissions and meet environmental regulations. 'Green' material: Aluminum is increasingly being promoted as a sustainable material due to its recyclability and reduced weight in transportation, which decreases energy consumption.

*. Growth of Applications in Electric Vehicles (***)

Lightness and Energy Efficiency: Aluminum is becoming a key material in electric vehicles to reduce battery weight and increase range. Structural Components: Aluminum is used for chassis, batteries, and cooling systems in electric vehicles. The global transition to electric vehicles is a major driver of demand. Demand for Advanced Batteries: The use of aluminum as a material in lithium-ion battery cathodes and in new generations of batteries (***) is emerging as a significant trend.

*. Expansion of Renewable Energy

Solar Panels: The structure of photovoltaic panels increasingly uses aluminum, which offers light weight and corrosion ...

2.5 New trends for the future

The future may hold even more of a starring place foraluminum in the automotive industry. The rapid expansion of the electric car segment is already contributing to an increased demand for the metal, which is used in some battery components and other parts of the car to offset the weight of electric components, but, in the future, it could play an even more central role. Indeed, although HEVs are seen as one means by which to combatglobal pollution, the actual savings in terms of fossil fuel use, which has been studied and is now difficult to debate, is paralleled by a problem that is still often ignored: the disposal of lithium batteries.

Lithium is a material that is not only very complicated to extract and process, it is also incredibly difficult to dispose of; moreover, it is flammable, and batteries made from this material carry a lot of weight. Here aluminum could once again be the solution. Several companies and universities, foremost among them the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are in fact studying new types of batteries made from aluminum and sulfur, these would bring considerable benefits both in terms of operation and ease of production and recycling, could trigger a ...

3.1 Structure and dynamics of the Italian market

The number of enterprises active in aluminum production in Italy fluctuated between **** and ****. After a significant decline of **.* percent between **** and ****, a stabilization was observed in **** and **** with *** enterprises, followed by a strong recovery in ****, with an increase of **.* percent over the previous year, reaching *** enterprises.

Number of enterprises active in aluminum production [***] Italy, ****-****, in number Istat, Companies Register

In ****, most of the enterprises active in aluminum production in Italy were sole proprietors, freelancers and self-employed, accounting for **.* percent of the total. Limited liability companies followed with ** percent, while joint stock companies and limited partnerships made up **.* percent. General partnerships and limited partnerships were less representative, with *.* percent and * percent, respectively, while cooperative societies had a marginal weight of *.* percent. This profile shows a prevalence of flexible and individual business structures, followed by more structured corporate forms. Legal form of companies active in aluminum production Italy, ****, in % Istat

The number of employees in aluminum production in Italy grew steadily from **** to ****, from **,*** to **,***, an overall increase of **.* percent. This increase reflects an expansion of the industry due to higher demand for aluminum and industrial recovery following the initial difficulties of the pandemic. Number of employees working in aluminum production [***] Italy, ...

3.2 Value Chain

Primary alumina production starts from bauxite; it is a very common ore that comes in the form of granular or rocky clay of various colors. Each year *** million tons of it are mined worldwide, mainly in Australia, which is responsible for *** million tons. Once mined, bauxite goes through a chemical process called Bayer. Here the 'pure aluminum oxide is separated from other substances in Bauxite through a caustic soda solution, producing aluminia. Then, through the "Hall-Hèroult" electrolytic process, primary aluminum is extracted from the aluminia. This transformation takes place through a fluorinated bath where the product, constantly passed through by an intense electric current, reaches ***°.

Primary or recycled aluminum is then used for the production of semi-finished products for industries, given the wide range of uses it can have, there is a need to create different types of aluminum with different characteristics of strength, durability and ease of processing. For this, other metals are added to aluminum, creating alloys suitable for a wide variety of industries.

During the processing stages, scrap is recovered and, along with waste, re-enters the value chain through recycling.

It takes about four tons of bauxite to produce one ton of aluminum. The process also uses ...

3.3 Distribution channels

3.4 The main players in the market

The main companies in the market are as follows:

Profilglass: Founded in **** in Fano by brothers Giancarlo and Stefano Paci, it is a leading Italian company in aluminum processing. Initially specializing in the production of spacer and decorative profiles for insulating glass, over time it has expanded its business to carry out the complete aluminum cycle, diversifying its production into laminates, profiles and tubes destined for multiple sectors, including construction, automotive, electronics, housewares and mechanics. It has experienced remarkable growth, growing from a production area of *,*** square meters to more than ***,*** square meters and increasing its staff from ** to more than *,*** employees. With an annual output of more than ***,*** tons of aluminum, the company exports to more than ** countries.

Raffmetal: Part of the Silmar business group, it is a leading Italian company in the production of aluminum alloys from recycling. Established in the ****s by Silvestro Niboli in the Sabbia Valley, the company has developed an integrated production cycle that ensures total control of production and quality. Raffmetal's production is entirely based on continuous casting, an innovative technology adopted since **** that offers numerous advantages over standard ingot, including improved aluminum quality, reduced melting time, and greater plant efficiency. It has a ...

4.1 Supply analysis

Aluminum offerings are diversified according to the type of product, the form in which it is supplied, and the target markets. Each type of offering meets the specific needs of industrial sectors and end applications.

4.2 Price trends in the market

The analysis of price trends in the aluminum market consists of three levels: the change in the producer price index in Italy on an annual basis from **** to ****, the monthly trend over the period ****-****, and the evolution of the global aluminum price between **** and ****. These data make it possible to identify the sector's inflationary dynamics and fluctuations in the price of the raw material both domestically and internationally.

After a period of relative stability until ****, the producer price index in Italy increased significantly, reaching a high of ***.* in **** (***), suggesting a readjustment after post-pandemic inflationary tensions.

Aluminum producer price index [***] from industry - annual data - base ****=*** Italy, ****-****, index Istat

monthly trends in ****-**** confirm this trend, showing a decline in early ****, with a low of ***.* in April, followed by a recovery to a new peak of ***.* in September. Industry producer price index - monthly data - [***] Aluminum production Italy, ****-****, base index ****=*** Istat *Istat estimate

Globally, the price of aluminum has followed a similar trend with high volatility. After a low of US$****/ton in June ****, there was an increase to a high of US$**** in May ****. The second half of **** saw less marked fluctuations, with the price standing ...

4.3 New supply trends

New trends in aluminum supply reflect the growing focus on sustainability, technological innovations, and geopolitical dynamics.

*. Transition to Sustainability

Low Environmental Impact Manufacturing: Manufacturers are investing in technologies to reduce carbon emissions, such as using renewable energy (***) in production processes. Projects such as "green" aluminum (***) eliminate CO₂ emissions during electrolysis by producing oxygen as a byproduct. Recycling and Circular Economy: Recycled (***) aluminum is gaining in importance due to increasing regulatory pressure and demand for sustainable materials. Companies are expanding recycling capabilities to meet demand from sectors such as packaging and automotive.

*. Regionalization of Manufacturing

Reducing Dependence on China: With China dominating about ** percent of global primary aluminum production, many countries are diversifying sources of supply to reduce geopolitical risks. Investments in new production facilities in the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and Africa are emerging as strategies to rebalance global supply. Development of Local Supply Chains: The European Union and the United States are boosting local aluminum production to strengthen economic security and decrease imports.

*. Increasing Production Capacity in Recycling

Expansion of Recycling Plants: Growing demand for secondary aluminum is driving producers to invest in advanced recycling technologies, such as automated scrap separation systems. Collection and remelting initiatives ...

5.1 Regulation and regulatory framework

In Italy, aluminum regulations and legislation are the result of an intertwining of national regulations, European regulations and international standards. This regulatory framework aims to ensure sustainable management of the material, from production to recycling, protecting the environment and workers' health, as well as promoting the competitiveness of the sector.

Aluminum production is mainly regulated by Legislative Decree ***/****, known as the Consolidated Environmental Act, which sets strict limits on emissions from industrial processes. Production plants must obtain an Integrated Environmental Authorization (***) obliges Italian manufacturers to curb CO₂ emissions, incentivizing the adoption of cleaner technologies.

A central issue for aluminum in Italy is environmental sustainability, in line with European policies on the circular economy. Directive ****/**/EC, which has been implemented in Italy, promotes the recycling of metallic materials, and the CIAL Consortium (***) further supports these initiatives by funding projects to improve metal waste management and incentivize the use of recycled materials.

From a safety perspective, Legislative Decree **/**** ensures the protection of workers in aluminum production facilities. Companies are obliged to identify and mitigate associated risks, such as exposure to aluminum dust or the use of hazardous chemicals in industrial processes. These obligations are reinforced by the European REACH and CLP regulations, which ...

5.2 Conclusion

The aluminum market is in a complex transition phase, suspended between growth dynamics and structural challenges. On the one hand, demand continues to expand, buoyed by the automotive industry, the push toward renewable energy, and a growing focus on sustainability. On the other, the sector faces significant obstacles: volatile commodity prices, rising energy costs and increasingly stringent regulatory pressure. Italy, while playing an important role in the European market, shows a fragmented structure that could hinder its competitiveness on a global scale. While some companies are moving toward greater vertical integration and investing in recycling, the sector still appears too exposed to demand fluctuations and dependence on imported raw materials. The main challenge will be to be able to combine innovation and sustainability without compromising profitability, especially in a context where large Asian producers continue to dominate the market with economies of scale that are difficult to match. To remain competitive, Italian industry will have to focus on specialization, efficiency and long-term industrial strategies, and avoid being passively subjected to global dynamics.

6.1 Market segmentation

• Profilglass
• Raffmetal
• Intals
• Laminazione Sottile
• Anche Metra
• Stemin
• Slim Aluminium
• Novelis Italia
• Indinvest Lt
• Hydro Extrusion Italy