India's aluminium beverage can market expected to reach INR 15 bn by 2017

India's beverage packaging industry reported a significant growth in 2014. Backed by rising disposable income among urban Indians and resulting need for increased convenience, consumption of beverages reached a new height previous year. Now, the main focus of the industry lies on sustainable packaging. R&D initiatives are being taken by can makers in collaboration with several research institutes to bring in innovation in green packaging.

Beverages as a sector, alone accounted for 21% of the total domestic consumer packaging market in 2014. According to an estimate made by Madras Consulting Group (MSG), it was valued at around INR 125 billion. Cumulative demand for consumer packaging from the beverage sector is expected to edge higher than other user sectors at around 12% till 2017. Major contributors to this growth include Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) and fruit juices among others.

Beverage packaging sector uses different kinds of material substrates and their combinations thereof such as glass, tetrapak, plastic and metals.

Aluminium beverage can market in 2014 stood at around 1.5 billion, quantity-wise and was valued at around INR 9 billion. By 2017, it is expected to reach around INR 15 billion, growing at a rate of 20-21% per annum. Low-installed capacity has remained a key impediment to penetration of beverage cans in domestic market since years. Imported cans also constitute a small market owing to high import duties, hence high price. However, with major players investing in can lines in recent times, the prices of have come down sharply and the market is witnessing an impressive double digit growth.

CSD is the leading end-user segment followed by beer. Aluminium beverage cans of capacities 330 ml and 500 ml are used for packaging of beer, while 250 ml cans are used primarily for packaging of CSD. Cans of 250 ml capacity are also used for packaging of energy drinks.

Aluminium beverage can lines are fast replacing tinplate beverage can lines all across the world by virtue of being infinitely recyclable. With demand for sustainable packaging technologies growing worldwide, this end user segment is expected to grow further in the years to come.