Beverage Container Demand to Exceed 272 Billion Units in 2012

US demand for beverage containers is projected to increase 2.4 percent per annum to 272 billion units in 2012, or nearly 42 billion gallons of packaged beverage production.  Unit gains will be driven by continued consumer preference for single-serving containers in many markets, growing interest in enhanced or functional beverages and high levels of new product introductions accompanied by aggressive marketing efforts.  These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in Beverage Containers, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Plastic containers, which held 61 percent of total gallons packaged in 2007, will continue to be the fastest growing segment of the beverage container market, having captured a substantial share of the market from traditional metal, glass and paperboard containers over the past several decades.  Advances will be buoyed by continued healthy growth for PET bottled waters despite environmental concerns related to plastic bottle usage.  The use of single-serving PET bottles has been a key factor in positioning water as an alternative to soft drinks.  

Metal containers, the second leading beverage container type in volume terms due to widespread use in the sizable soft drink and beer markets, will register minimal growth as a result of declining soft drink and beer production.  However, good prospects are expected in fast-growing beverages such as energy drinks and eight-ounce soft drink cans.  Demand for aluminum bottles will increase rapidly from a low base due to their upscale appearance, which provides a key element of product differentiation in markets such as beer.

Glass container demand will expand modestly, helped by the entrenched position of bottles in wine packaging and robust gains in markets such as RTD tea and other nonalcoholic RTD beverages, where glass’ premium image continues to be a marketing advantage.  Declining demand for paperboard containers will stem from continued supplantation of gabletop cartons by plastic bottles and aseptic cartons by pouches. 

Carbonated soft drinks, bottled water and milk were the largest markets for beverage containers, with a combined 64 percent share of packaged beverage production in gallon terms in 2007.  Although soft drinks’ share of packaged volume will decline as a result of concerns about the link between soft drinks and obesity, bottled water will continue to post above-average gains as a result of its healthy profile. 

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.