Packaging industry updates

EMBALLAGE 2010 monitors and keeps you updated on industry news (new products, appointments….) and provides you with data and key figures on the packaging industry.

Special survey "Packaging innovation and sustainable development, two assets to revitalise your business"

This survey - collectively carried out by EUROPACK-EUROMANUT and EMBALLAGE MAGAZINE and analysed by EUROPACK-EUROMANUT's Consultant Annette Freidinger-Legay - enables us to understand companies' strategies and to find ways to exit the crisis.

Survey made June 26 , 2009, by e-mail on a representative group of 392 people (Europack-Euromanut 2007 visitors listing).

Special survey "French people perceptions and expectactions in 2009 about the packaging market evolution"

EUROPACK-EUROMANUT, held each two years, is the Packaging Equipments and Solutions for Industry and Retail Exhibition. The 15th edition took place from November 17 to 19 at Eurexpo Exhibition Centre, Lyon. A special survey about "French people perceptions and expectations in 2009 about the packaging market evolution" has just delivered its results.

• Recycling, ergonomics, design and convenience: what are today's expectactions about packaging?
  Click to discover all results and feedbacks (only available in French )

Survey made September 4 and 5, 2009, by LH2 / EUROPACK-EUROMANUT by telephone on a representative group of 997 people and based on the quota method.

A few figures about the packaging industry

Machinery

The world production of packaging machinery reached € 21.8 billion in 2007, up 10% from 2006. Germany remains the world's leading producer and exporter, followed by Italy (source VDMA).

World market of packaging machines

In France, 65 companies employ over 20 people and achieved a turnover of € 1.7 billion in 2007, i.e. +5.4% compared to 2006. Their export rate is 75%; and their major customers are the United States, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Russia. On the other hand, imports from Italy and Germany are also substantial (source SESSI).

The major packaging machinery markets remain packaged foods (40%), beverages (20%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (20%), then the other industries (e.g. tobacco, construction).

In the medium term, the world demand for packaging and packing machinery should continue to grow at a strong rate of about 5.2% per year to a US$ 40 billion volume (€ 31.26 billion) in 2012 (source Freedonia).

Packaging and containers

World production of packaging and containers in 2006: US$ 454 billion (US$ 486 billion expected in 2008)

• of which US$ 128 billion in 2006 for Europe
• of which US$ 114 billion in 2006 for Asia (of which 36 billion for China).

(Source Packaging Gateway)

The packaging manufacturing industry in France includes 862 companies employing more than 20 people. It is a heterogeneous industry including fragmented labour-intensive industries (plastics and wood) as well as much more capital-intensive and concentrated sectors such as the glass industry. The economic weight of SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) is relatively high in the package industry, and there is a great number of very small businesses (less than 10 employees, especially in wooden packaging manufacturing).

Compared to the machinery sector, packaging manufacturing is not much globalized (export rate of 23.5%). As it is difficult to transport certain fragile or very heavy products, packaging manufacturing companies tend to move nearer to their customers to cut variable costs.

Packaging trade is therefore relatively small, however France is the world's 4th largest exporter with a 7.1% market share, behind Germany, China and the United States. France is particularly competitive in wood and glass packaging (ranking first and second in the world). The balance of trade is structurally negative (plastic and paper-cardboard imports from European neighbours).

The major markets at world level are: foodstuffs (38%), beverages (18%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (8%), other 36%.

Trends

Change factors are numerous in the packaging sector and drive innovation :

Increasingly strict regulations, e.g. food contact, chemical products, traceability...

Environment friendliness: lighter, biodegradable, recyclable materials

New technologies: printing techniques, design softwares, new materials including nanotechnologies, smart packaging with RFID or DataMatrix code

Population trends: increased ergonomic requirements for older people, single-serve packaging for individual consumption.

As far as machinery is concerned, the trend is towards a market segmentation between high-performance machines for long-run production requiring qualified high-cost labour, and more standard machines (mechanical systems are back; less electronics) for SMEs and developing markets. The packaging industry also takes action for environmental protection via its expenses, i.e. € 41.7 million in 2006, essentially devoted to investments downstream from the production process.

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