In the ongoing legislative process on critical raw materials (Critical Raw Materials Act), the European Parliament has decided to add aluminum to the list of strategic raw materials. Previously, the European Council had also included aluminum in its position.
Rob van Gils, President of Aluminium Deutschland, emphasized: “It is right and important that the Parliament also recognizes the importance of aluminum for the Green Deal. Many technologies and goods that are indispensable for the transformation contain large quantities of aluminum. In the trilogue negotiations that now follow and the finalized law, it is essential that decision-makers continue to recognize this central role of our material.”
German aluminum industry still in crisis
A member survey conducted by Aluminium Deutschland shows that the supply and price situation on the energy markets remains poor for around half of the companies. One in seven companies said that the situation had even worsened. For the coming months, 40 percent expect the situation to tighten, in some cases significantly. In addition, three quarters of respondents rate the competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location as low or very low. No company rates it as high or very high. In addition to capacity cuts (37 percent), 31 percent of companies are being forced to introduce short-time working. Another 18 percent are cutting jobs and 8 percent are relocating parts of their production abroad.
Van Gils continues: “While aluminum is essential for transformation, the German aluminum industry is in a tangible crisis. We are seeing significant declines in order books. This contradicts the political goal of making Europe greener and more resilient. Three quarters of the world’s primary aluminum is produced in China, Russia and the Middle East – with all the consequences for Germany’s and Europe’s security of supply. That’s why I’m appealing to common sense in Berlin. The people there urgently need to find a way to defuse the situation until green energy is available nationwide and at low cost.”
