Global trends in consumer packaging

Rexam, the global consumer packaging company has released the 2011/2012 edition of its 'Consumer Packaging Report', the fifth of its kind over the last eight years. Under the title "Packaging Unwrapped", this year's edition looks at the global trends in consumer packaging, statistical market data drawn from a number of sources including Rexam's own business intelligence, and the key growth drivers in mature and developing markets around the world.  It also includes insight into the evolution of beverage packaging and to what the future may hold. Although acknowledging the turbulence caused by the global economic downturn and an increasingly demanding consumer base, the combined data points to a positive future for the global consumer packaging industry as a whole.Rexam's Chief Executive, Mr. Graham Chipchase, commented: "Consumer packaging is not only an essential component of modern living, but it makes a positive contribution to a sustainable society. As a global leader, Rexam is constantly seeking to forge closer relationships with customers. This report is a testimony to our ambitions to strengthen these relationships through understanding and anticipating market trends in order to provide product and service solutions that add value to our customers' business."

Long-term growth visible

According to the report, the global market for consumer packaging in 2010 was valued at just over $395 billion. The packaging market grew by 6% between 2009/10 reverting back to packaging values seen in 2008. The near term outlook is still clouded by economic challenges and fragile consumer confidence. However, long term growth is expected to be on average around 3% a year, with the market reaching $456 billion in 2015, although some segments will display higher growth rates.

Food packaging is the largest segment, accounting for 51% of the total market value at $202 billion. Beverage packaging accounts for 18%, followed by 6% for healthcare and 5% for cosmetics. Packaging for healthcare and cosmetics is experiencing good growth, with healthcare predicted to be the fastest growing end use category, at 4.5% per year until 2015. Food and beverage packaging are also growing but are more in line with overall  packaging growth of 3%.

Long term growth strongly underlines a shift in balance towards the emerging markets. The Asia, Oceania, Africa & Middle East region has now increased its packaging market value share to 34% matching that of Europe which dropped by 2% between 2009/10. Both North America and Europe show moderate year on year increases with Europe faring a little bit better than North America.

Plastic packaging takes biggest share

Plastic (rigid plastic and flexible) accounted for 37% of all global packaging sales in 2010, the largest share of the market. Within plastics, rigid plastics is expected to be the fastest growing packaging material during the period 2010 to 2015 with a predicted average annual growth rate of just over 4%. Growth will be driven by consumer preference for lightness, safety, transparency, convenience and the microwaveability of rigid plastic packaging.

Metal, which includes food and beverage cans, accounted for 15% of the consumer packaging market value in 2010 with metal beverage cans accounting for 6% of this share. Metal packaging overall is forecast to grow at around 2% a year to 2015.

The global pharmaceutical packaging market (both primary and secondary packaging) was valued at over $47 billion in 2010 and is forecast to grow at around 6% a year to reach $58 billion by 2014. Western Europe, the US and Japan will account for over 70% of this total. The Asia Pacific region represents just under a quartZoom Lebron XII 12