Aluminium can supply shortage looms large, leading to a deferral of quality control norms

India has extended the deadline for the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification through a mandatory Quality Control Order (QCO) for aluminium cans used in soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and food processing. The decision has helped in easing the supply pressure of aluminium cans right ahead of the summer demand. 

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Brought under the BIS certifications in April 2025, manufacturers like Coca-Cola and United Breweries Ltd were facing a supply disruption of aluminium cans, a threat looming large just before the demand for aluminium-canned drinks in the summer. The shortage led to an import rush from Sri Lanka and the Middle East to tackle the seasonal demand.  

The timeline extension comes at a time when aluminium can consumption is rising at double-digit rates, fuelled by rapid adoption across the beverage sector. Industry executives said the move will help stabilise availability. “The extension of the timeline for BIS certifications by the DPIIT on imported cans is very timely, and prevents a big potential crisis for the beer and other beverages industries,” stated Vinod Giri, Director General of the Brewers Association of India (BAI).

While brewers prefer domestically produced empty cans due to lower costs, Giri noted, “domestic capacity is currently short by over 20 per cent.” Although “Can manufacturers are investing in adding capacity,” the process is time-consuming. BAI has been engaging with the DPIIT on the issue since August last year.

According to the association, beer producers faced a shortfall of 120-130 million units of 500-ml cans in 2025. Without imports to bridge the gap, this could have led to an estimated revenue loss of around Rs 1,300 crore for state governments.

Cans now account for over 25 per cent of annual soft drink and beer sales in India, having doubled in just two years, driven by convenience, premium positioning and better recycling efficiency. 

Image source: https://www.jeitco.com/

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