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Summary of our market study
The global metal packaging market has experienced robust growth, with forecasts indicating a CAGR of 3.3% in 2022, reaching a value of US$153 billion by 2022. One of the key drivers of this demand is the unique characteristics of metal packaging, such as extended shelf life and recyclability. Steel and aluminum currently boast the highest recycling rates of all packaging materials, in line with the current trend towards sustainable development. In addition, demand for metal-based healthcare products has increased. While Western countries have historically led demand, Asia, particularly India, has seen substantial growth due to rapid urbanization and sustainable development initiatives, with the aim of increasing the use of aluminum cans from 5% to 25% by 2030.
Nevertheless, metal packaging holds only a modest share of the global market (12.2%), with cardboard and plastic combined dominating nearly 60% of the packaging industry. In Europe alone, metal packaging production amounts to around 98 billion units a year, with Germany the main importer from the first half of 2020. Despite challenges such as the decline in the value of the domestic market in Germany (down 21% to 1.07 billion euros in exports), the enduring appeal and environmental benefits of metal packaging suggest its potential for expansion, particularly if we consider its competitive export performance.
Shifting Tides: The Complex Landscape of Germany's Metal Packaging Industry
The metal packaging market in Germany presents a nuanced picture, demonstrating both robust growth in some segments while facing challenges in others. Aluminum cans, tubes and wine stoppers are in high demand, thanks to their convenience and recyclability. For example, consumption of cans for soft drinks in Europe has been growing by over 4% a year, fuelled by the boom in energy drinks and the general appeal of aluminium's recyclability. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry's reliance on aluminum tubes, which offer excellent protection against environmental factors, should support growth, not least because of Germany's aging population, whose need for medicines is greater. By contrast, the canned food sector, which had enjoyed increased popularity, is now facing a potential decline, as consumer preferences shift towards fresher or frozen alternatives. Nevertheless, canned foods are expected to retain a significant market share, albeit with gradual declines over time. Germany's metal packaging industry, which accounts for between 10 and 20% of the country's total packaging market, faces a complex set of challenges at national level. Over the past fourteen years, the number of companies and the number of jobs in the sector have fallen by around 20% and 17% respectively.
This indicates a consolidation of the sector and potential market saturation, or a move towards more efficient operations requiring fewer employees. However, despite a domestic market down by around 21%, German metal packaging exports remained resilient and even recorded growth. Representing more than half of the industry's sales, exports testify to Germany's strong international presence in the industrial goods trading space. Stable export figures, combined with markedly reduced domestic demand, indicate that Germany plays a leading role in metal packaging production, focusing on foreign markets rather than domestic consumption. German exports are evenly divided between euro zone and non-euro zone countries, reflecting a balanced approach to trade and a desire to integrate into the global market. Exports to non-euro zone countries in particular rose sharply, doubling over the period under review. Although the German metal packaging market is experiencing some contraction, the country's manufacturers continue to play a vital role in the wider European area, where environmental considerations and recycling capacities are likely to positively shape future market trajectories. The third-largest player in the European metal packaging market, Germany, could still leverage its environmental friendliness and technological advances to reinvigorate domestic demand and continue to win markets abroad.
Main competitors of the German metal packaging industry
- Greif Packaging An influential player in the German metal packaging market, Greif Packaging is a testament to the sector's innovation and resilience. The company is renowned for its comprehensive range of industrial packaging solutions for sectors such as chemicals, petroleum and lubricants. With a global footprint, Greif has managed to maintain a strong market presence by focusing on product quality, customer service and sustainability in its operations.
- PIRLO Gesellschaft specializes in metal and plastic packaging. With many years' experience in providing first-class packaging solutions, PIRLO offers a diversified portfolio that includes metal cans, tubes and a whole range of industrial containers. The company's focus on versatility and meeting customers' tailor-made needs keeps it at the forefront of the industry.
- silgan Metal Packaging Silgan Metal Packaging is another big name in the metal packaging industry, renowned for its high-quality metal containers for food, beverage and consumer health products. The company stands out for its relentless pursuit of technological advances, enabling it to offer cutting-edge packaging that preserves the freshness of contents and extends shelf life.
- Tecnocap A leader in metal closure solutions, Tecnocap draws on its expertise to produce a variety of metal twist caps, closures and lids for food and beverages. The company stands out for its commitment to sustainability and the circular economy, aiming to provide the market with environmentally-friendly solutions that are both functional and aesthetically appealing.
These leading companies, with their unique specializations and commitment to quality and sustainability, play a crucial role in driving the German metal packaging market forward. As the industry evolves, these players are likely to adapt and innovate, which could lead to increased market share and new developments in this dynamic sector.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of the study
Metal packaging includes packaging made of steel and at aluminium such as cans, which preserve food, hygiene products, beverages, etc.
The market for metal packaging is divided between several players: the mineral and petrochemical producers (bauxite, soda, carbon), the suppliers (steel, aluminum), packaging producers and end-users (industry, trade, transport-storage). In this study, we cover the last three categories.
The global metal packaging industry is burgeoning in terms of size and sales thanks to the attractive features of durability, space efficiency, metal preservation and recycling. Nevertheless, metal packaging accounts for a rather small share of total packaging (12.2%), which implies that this material has great potential for development . [ all4pack This development will most likely come from developing countries and Asia, where the I nde The aim of this project, for example, is to increase the use of aluminium cans from 5% to 25% in 2030 .
In Germany the market is decreasing, yet metal packaging accounts for a significant proportion (16%) of all packaging. Germany has 14.4% of the European market for metal packaging in 2016, making it the third largest country behind Italy and the United Kingdom. [ MEP ...However.., the advantages of metal packaging, particularly in ecological terms, should encourage its development instead of plastic, for example.
The main companies in the metal packaging sector in Germany are Greif Packaging, PIRLO Gesellschaft, Silgan Metal Packaging and Tecnocap .
1.2 A booming global market
The metal packaging industry is booming; between **** and ****, the market is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of *.*% to reach US$*** billion in ****.
Size of the global metal packaging market World, ****-****, in millions of US dollars Source: ****
There are several factors behind this demand. Firstly, the intrinsic characteristics of metal packaging, including its storage characteristics, contribute to the convenience of this means of packaging. Indeed, metal packaging allows for an extended shelf life, preservation of taste and nutritional integrity. Second, metals are highly recyclable. Steel and aluminum have the highest recycling rates of all packaging materials, which is consistent with society's demand for more sustainable product development MPMA states that **% of all steel ever produced is still in circulation today. Finally, there is a growing demand for metal-based health products, including trays, metal sterilizers and tablet packaging.
Although the Western world dominates the current demand for metal packaging, Asia is recording the highest growth figures, due to a rapid pace of urbanization that puts pressure on communities to find solutions for sustainable consumption with limited negative externalities. In this context, India, for example, has set up a consortium called Aluminum Beverage Can Association of India (***) which aims ...
1.3 A declining domestic market
Sales in the metal packaging and closures market Germany, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
The turnover of the German metal packaging industry fell by **% between **** and ****. This decline is not continuous, as there have been periods of increasing turnover, for example between **** and ****. However, the long term trend is towards a decline in market value.
The lowest point on the German metal packaging market was reached in **** (***) against the backdrop of the global steel crisis. Indeed, steel industry workers from ** countries travelled to Brussels to demonstrate against Chinese dumping on steel with raw material sold below its production price. Germany, as the main steel producer in Europe, was particularly affected. Chinese overcapacity peaked in **** with *** million tonnes to be sold. In addition to China, Russia and Brazil also produce steel in large quantities and at a rather low cost. [***]
Finally, the Covid-** pandemic did not have the same impact on the various players in the industry. While producers of consumer goods packaging were able to recover quickly thanks to continued household demand, manufacturers of industrial packaging (***) were harder hit due to the greater drop in demand from their customers. Diversification was therefore key during this period, and companies over-reliant on ...
1.4 German exports of metal packaging
Breakdown of sales in the metal packaging and closures market Germany, ****, in % Source: ****
**% of the turnover of the German metal packaging industry comes from exports. In ****, a total of *.** billion euros worth of metal packaging will have been exported.
Exports of metal packaging and closures Germany, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
It is very interesting to note that, in contrast to the total turnover on the market, the amount of exports has resisted and even increased between **** and ****. In spite of rather strong fluctuations from one year to the next, exports remained stable between **** and ****. Here Germany is demonstrating its leading role in international trade and in particular in trade in industrial goods.
The decline in the market for metal packaging between **** and **** (***) is therefore mainly due to a drop in domestic consumption. The domestic market fell by **% over the period.
Breakdown of exports of metal packaging and closures Germany, ****, in % Source: ****
German exports of metal packaging are perfectly balanced between euro-zone and non-euro-zone countries. This confirms that European partners are important for the German metal packaging industry, but also that it does not wish to rely exclusively on partners who share its currency. Indeed, the amount of exports ...
2 Demand Analysis
2.1 Contrasting demand by segment
The market for metal packaging in Germany is rather buoyant. However, not all segments are affected in the same way. While aluminium cans, aluminium tubes and aluminium wine closures are popular with customers, cans are more difficult.
Metal cans
Consumption of cans for non-alcoholic beverages has grown significantly by more than *% per year in Europe in recent years. This demand is driven by energy drink cans, by the marketing of new products but also by the price and recyclability of the cans. In the alcoholic beverages segment, cans are also gaining ground. Consumers appreciate them and they are expected to gradually dominate glass bottles. This trend is also reinforced by the trend towards drinking at home rather than in bars or restaurants.
The cans
Very popular since the **** crisis because of their ease of storage and price, cans have seen their sales increase sharply in recent years. However, as consumers are shifting their preferences to fresh or frozen products, which are perceived as healthier, canned food is seeing its privileged position called into question. Canned food is expected to maintain a significant weight in the coming years but a gradually declining weight in favour of the above mentioned segments.
Aluminium ...
2.2 The share of metal in packaging in Germany
Packaging production by segment Germany, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****
The market for metal packaging grew between **** and **** (***).
Breakdown of packaging raw materials Germany, ****, in % Source: ****
In ****, metal packaging accounted for **% of the total packaging used in Germany (***), which together account for two thirds of the German packaging market.
3 Market structure
3.1 The metal packaging supply chain
Source: ****
Raw material suppliers: Steel is made from iron . It is produced either from iron ore and coal (***). Aluminum is made by two processes: either the Bayer process of refining bauxite ore to obtain aluminum oxide, or the Hall-Heroult process of smelting aluminum oxide to release pure aluminum. Raw material processing and coating : The coating is used to prevent corrosion of metals. Steel, in particular, is exposed to corrosion if the metal (***) oxidizes; to prevent this, materials such as paint, zinc, cadmium, aluminium, chromium, nickel, nickel-chromium, iron oxide and silver are added to steel. Aluminium is rust resistant and therefore does not require any coating process. Metal processing can involve many points of action, including recycling scrap metal, increasing the concentration of the desired metal, or even extracting the metal itself. This is the case, for example, with steel that is processed from iron (***). In general, the coating protects the surface of metal cans, prevents food spoilage and improves the performance of the packaging material. Coatings are also used industrially on food tanks and containers, and are also used on the side of the packaging that is not in contact with food, for example, to protect ink and improve gloss. Production ...
3.2 The metal packaging sector in Germany
Packaging companies and metal closures Germany, ****-****, in number of enterprises Source: ****
In fourteen years, the number of companies in the metal packaging sector in Germany has fallen by **%. There were ** such structures in **** compared to ** in ****.
Employees in the metal packaging and closures sector Germany, ****-****, in number of employees Source: ****
In fourteen years, the number of employees in the metal packaging sector in Germany has fallen by **%. *,*** people worked in this sector compared to **,*** in ****, i.e. around *,*** fewer people. However, the fall in the number of employees is less marked than the fall in the number of companies (***), which can be explained both by concentration movements that reduce the number of players and by the bankruptcy of small players with a lesser impact on employment.
3.3 Metal packagings ahead of other types of packaging in terms of environmental protection
The Verband Metallverpackungen (***) has published the industry's various results in terms of the sustainability of its activities and the reduction of environmental damage:
Closing the loop Metal packaging is recycled, melted down and transformed into new products. In this way, the resources used are kept in circulation. Recyclable design Metal packaging: Metal packaging is almost entirely made of one material with excellent recycling properties. This design makes recycling much easier. Recycled products, a sought-after raw material Metal recyclates have the same excellent properties as freshly mined metal - making them a sought-after raw material for many consumer markets. Excellent recycling rate Metal packaging has the highest recycling rate of all packaging worldwide. Meeting tomorrow's requirements today Germany and the EU have set ambitious recycling quotas for packaging materials. Metal packaging, unlike other materials, already meets these quotas today. Infinitely recyclable raw material The metal packaging industry operates cyclically to save raw materials (***).
Metal packaging manufacturing and recycling cycle
Source: ****
The industry also hopes to make full use of the European regulation banning single-use plastics. Indeed, consumer goods companies are starting to think about redesigning their packaging in a cyclical distribution chain option (***). They are relying more and more on glass or ...
4 Analysis of the offer
4.1 The different types of metal packagings
Les emballages métalliques peuvent prendre des formes très différentes. Quelle que soit la forme utilisée ce sont toujours la praticité, la polyvalence et la fiabilité du métal qui sont recherchées (***).
Boîtes de conserve
Emballer des denrées alimentaires est un exercice compliqué qui doit permettre de répondre à différentes attentes. En effet, l'objectif est de conserver la qualité, les nutriments, le goût et l'apparence. Les emballages en métal offrent des propriétés idéales pour relever ce défi, le fer blanc de haute qualité, par exemple, confère à la boîte sa fonction de protection et un revêtement intérieur élastique garantit que le contenu reste intact même en cas de bosse.
Les boîtes de conserve offrent la possibilité au consommateur de préserver ses aliments pour une longue durée (***) et ce sans aucun conservateur. La conserve représente donc un bon moyen de réduire le gaspillage alimentaire.
Enfin, la boîte de conserve s'adapte facilement aux évolution de la demande. En effet, les modes de vie plus souples et la réduction de la taille des ménages alimentent la demande pour des ...
4.2 The many advantages of metal packaging
Metal packaging has many advantages which explain its current use and future potential.
Versatile
Metal is an optimal solution, whatever the volume of products to be packed
In addition, metal packaging is available in a wide variety of shapes, diameters and applications. They can be used for delicatessen, paint, cosmetics, glue, vegetables or hazardous products. Metal packaging is suitable for the whole range of industrial and consumer goods and can therefore be found everywhere in everyday life. [***]
Recyclable
Packaging and metal closures are an example of how things can be improved. They are particularly easy to recycle and transform into new products. For example, today's cans can be transformed into tomorrow's car body, tomorrow's propeller, or even a can again. And raw materials that were once used are not lost, but reused in a complete cycle. "Use instead of consume" is the motto of the metal packaging industry. [***]
Practice
Fresh, quality canned products stay fresh because the cans are filled and sealed very quickly to preserve vitamins and taste. In addition, because canned foods are cooked over low heat, there is no need for preservatives and canned foods do not consume any cooling energy during transportation and storage.
The advantages of ...
4.3 A downward trend in metal production prices since 2011
Producer Prices of Metal and Aluminum Products World, ****-****, index base *** in **** Source: ****
Over the last ten years the prices of metal (***) and aluminium have fallen by **% and **% respectively. This decrease can easily be explained by the graph below illustrating the strong increase in the production of steel and aluminium in the world.
Trends in world steel and aluminium production World, ****-****, in index base *** in **** Source: ****
World production of steel and aluminium increased by **% and **% respectively between **** and ****, which explains the fall in market prices over the same period. This increase in production is mainly due to China's pace, which almost doubled its production over the period, flooding the world with cheap metals and exerting downward pressure on world prices.
4.4 External Factors Leading to Uncertainty for the Industry
Parallel to Donald Trump's inauguration, an international trade war erupted against a backdrop of perceived injustices in world trade and tariffs.
The European Union has also been affected by this strategy, in which steel in particular has been identified as an economic hotspot and therefore targeted. On ** March ****, the United States introduced tariff measures on steel (***) against international steel importers. These measures, decided in particular by the Trump administration, were aimed at relocating part of the industrial activities concerned to the United States and at combating the country's growing external deficits. [***]
In the future, although there is currently a ceasefire in terms of tariff increases, it is plausible to assume that such an increase could occur if Donald Trump were re-elected for four years. The elections in October **** are an important event that EU steel producers need to follow closely. This event also affects producers of metal packaging, as they are the second largest in the value chain.
5 Regulation
5.1 Regulations
Germany is subject to European Community law. Within this legal framework there are Directive **/**/EC on packaging and packaging waste as a central element. This Directive was created in **** and has been in force since ****. Some of the points included in its scope and which relate to metal packaging in general are :
Recycling targets By ****, at least **% of aluminium and **% of ferrous metals must be recycled. By ****, these figures should be **% and **% respectively. The form the weight, volume and hazardous components of the packaging must be reduced to a minimum. In addition, the packaging design must respect adequate levels of recycling and energy recovery. The producer's responsibility manufacturers in the metal packaging industry must meet waste management criteria.
The Directive is subject to continuous amendment. Updates and changes can be tracked here .
6 Positioning of the players
6.1 Segmentation of players
- Crown Holdings, Inc
- Ball corporation
- Ardagh Group
- Massilly
- Silgan Holdings
- Greif Packaging
- Tecnocap
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