Signals point to growth for aluminium packaging

The production of packaging made from or using aluminium showed dynamic growth in Germany last year. Manufacturers reported considerable growth in almost all market segments. Overall, the sector benefited from the generally good consumer sentiment. “Consumers are placing a high level of trust in a positive economic development,” says Christian Wellner, executive director of Düsseldorf-based Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA). “This boosts consumption and leads to growth in demand for our products. The aluminium packaging manufacturers’ good order intake at the beginning of the year means all signals point to growth.”

Growth in shipments to the various end markets in 2013 was as follows: aluminium tubes and aerosol cans reported above-average growth. Shipments of aluminium aerosol cans showed strong growth and reached a record level (+8.6%), while those of aluminium tubes rose a respectable 4.7 per cent. Several European competitors withdrew from the aluminium tube market and this led to increased demand as far as competitive German suppliers were concerned. “There was also strong demand from the most important markets for aluminium tubes and aerosol cans, namely the cos-metics, pharma and food industries,” explains Gregor Spengler, head of packaging at GDA. Demand for bodycare products was again very buoyant and the trend towards smaller lot sizes and ever more complex shaped cans continued. According to Gregor Spengler, the pharmaceutical market will continue to be an important growth market for aluminium tubes and aerosol cans thanks to aluminium’s good material properties, such as its complete barrier protection against external influences like light, gases, and humidity, and its favourable hygienic properties.

In the case of aluminium foil, ever thinner foil coupled with the trend towards lighter packaging led to a slight decline in shipments (-3%). The development in the pharma and confectionery market segments remained satisfactory, but there was a fall in de-mand that was quite significant in some cases from the dairy, semi-luxury and other food sectors. With its high export share, aluminium foil and thin strip also suffered from the economic crises in Europe’s economies and the resultant cautious demand.

GDA is very pleased with developments in the market for beverage cans, which cele-brated a striking comeback last year in Germany. “Beverage cans are marching for-ward, the upward trend is continuing,” says Christian Wellner. Altogether some 3.5 per cent more aluminium and tinplate beverage cans were sold in Germany in 2013. This growth rate is above the European average. Aluminium is profiting to an above aver-age extent from this pleasant trend because one of the major beverage can suppliers in Germany has switched its production lines from tinplate to aluminium. More and more beverage companies are committing themselves to the can – for beer, soft, mixed and wellness drinks, and wine and Prosecco. Even the large supermarket chains, which are opening more and more small stores in city centres to cater for the passing trade or to offer people a chance to make small purchases on their way home, are committing themselves to smaller, user-friendly pack sizes like the beverage can.

Other cans, for example for chemical products, cartridges or cigar tubes also recorded a rise in shipments (+ 2.9%). Again it is aluminium’s excellent barrier function that is decisive when choosing the packaging.