The European aluminium industry

More than 27.6 million tonnes of primary aluminium are currently used in the Western World per year. Western Europe accounts for approximately one quarter of primary aluminium use. The manufacturing and converting industries in Western Europe presently use about 3.6 million tonnes of rolled products, 2.4 million tonnes of extruded products, 0.5 million tonnes of other semi-fabricated products and 0.8 million tonnes of aluminium foil per year. In addition approximately 1.9 million tonnes of casting alloys were used from mainly the secondary aluminium industry.

Aluminium industry key facts and figures in Western Europe in 2003*

	Direct jobs 237 000 Source EAA Number of companies Mining (bauxite) 2.9 mio tonnes Mining 4 plants Refining (alumina) 6.2 mio tonnes Refining 8 plants Metal production 4.1 mio tonnes Metal production 32 smelters Production of semis   Extrusion plants 318 plants *extrusions 2.4 mio tonnes Rolling mills 55 mills *wire 0.3 mio tonnes Rollers/converters n.a *rolled products 3.8 mio tonnes Remelters 115 **plants *rollers/converters 0.8 mio tonnes Refiners 174* plants Recycling aluminium 3.8 mio tonnes