US Demand for Plastic Containers to Exceed $32 Billion in 2016

US demand for plastic containers is forecast to increase 4.9 percent annually to $32.4 billion in 2016, consuming 14.2 billion pounds of resin.  Growth will be driven by performance advantages over alternative packaging formats as well as a recovery in the broader economy following the 2007-2009 recession.  Volume gains will lag value gains as the average weight per container unit continues to fall, reflecting preferences for small, single-serving containers in a number of food and beverage markets, and lightweighting of containers to reduce material use and enhance sustainability.  Though plastic containers will face increased competition from pouches and other types of flexible packaging, these will often augment rather than replace rigid containers.  PET and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are by far the leading plastic container resins, accounting for a combined 86 percent of demand in 2011. These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in Plastic Containers, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.  

Bottles and jars, which represented 77 percent of plastic container poundage in 2011, are by far the leading plastic container type.  Through 2016, plastic bottle and jar demand is expected to rise 2.8 percent per year to 165 billion units, moderated by the already-dominant position of plastic in many applications, with few new areas existing for large-scale conversions.  Additionally, bottle unit growth in the 2001-2006 period benefited significantly from skyrocketing sales of bottled water.  Going forward, a substantial deceleration in bottled water growth is expected based on environmental considerations.  Still, advances will be aided by healthy prospects for smaller single-serving beverage bottles.  Among major bottle and jar markets, the fastest gains are anticipated for pharmaceutical and food applications. 

Faster volume gains are anticipated for other plastic container types, such as tubs, cups, and bowls.  Demand will be supported by the convenience, portability, and portion control benefits of single-serving cup packaging as well as favorable outlooks for certain foods (e.g., yogurt, hummus, single-cup coffee) typically packaged in tubs and cups.  A rebound is expected for plastic pails based on a recovery in construction activity from low levels in 2011, which will boost demand for paints, adhesives, driveway sealers, and other goods typically packaged in pails. 

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.