On behalf of the WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle e.V., EWI analysed the effects of an increase in electricity prices on the gross value added of exemplary companies in the non-ferrous metal industry. In 2017, the electricity prices of companies in the non-ferrous metal industry fluctuated between 3.6 ct/kWh for an aluminium electrolysis plant and 14.0 ct/kWh for a small copper rolling mill. The large differences are mainly due to the deviating regulatory relief schemes. Compared to other branches of the manufacturing industry, the electricity cost intensity is highest in the metal industry with an average of 14.5 %, an electricity price increase therefore has comparatively strong effects. An increase in electricity prices by 1.0 ct/kWh would reduce the gross value added of the metal industry by 439 million Euro (2.3 %), processes with high electricity-cost intensity such as aluminium electrolysis would be particularly affected strongly.
