Aluminium aerosol can industry breaking record after record

The manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans were again able to report a new production record in 2011 with some 6.6 billion cans produced worldwide. Average market growth over the past six years has been almost eight per cent a year and is proof of the extraordinarily high esteem the aerosol can enjoys among customers and consumers as an aesthetically appealing, user-friendly and sustainable form of packaging.

In Europe, where the annual per capita consumption is already about 11 aerosol cans a year, growth in 2011 was remarkable: a good ten per cent. Demand in the North American market, with its annual per capita consumption of nine cans, remained stable. In South America, numerous boom years with double-digit growth were followed last year by single-digit growth. The outlook in this region continues to be favourable particularly in view of the fact that per capita consumption in emerging countries like Brazil is a modest three cans and thus offers potential for development. The same is true for the growth markets of Asia where a considerable increase is expected in future given that demand continues to be solid and the annual per capita consumption is currently as low as one can (China) or even less (Indonesia, South Korea).

Deodorants were again the driving force for the market success in 2011 and accounted for the lion’s share, with about 48 per cent of overall production. The markets for hair sprays and hair mousses, which together account for about 20 per cent, also remained stable. Additional growth was also achieved in the categories household products, pharmaceuticals and food, which with production shares of about ten, six and three per cent respectively still have potential for further development.

“The sector is very pleased with the results obtained in 2011,” sums up AEROBAL President Takaaki Takeuchi. “The order situation at the beginning of 2012 is also gratifying and utilisation of production capacities remains high. The need to cope with increasing costs for raw materials, energy and labour around the globe represents a real challenge for the industry in 2012.”