Aluminium aerosol can industry heading from record to record

With a world production volume of 6.93 billion cans the aluminium aerosol can industry achieved another record in 2012. This corresponds to an increase in demand by 5 % compared to 2011 figures. Whereas demand in the relatively saturated EU market was more or less flat, deliveries to Asia, North and South America as well as the Middle East increased significantly.

In 2012 the impressive performance of the aluminium aerosol can industry, which has achieved an average growth rate of 7 % over the last six years, was ensured by lively demand for deodorants (+ 8.5 %), hairsprays (+ 6 %), pharmaceuticals (+ 17 %) and household products (+ 14 %). Deliveries to the food and shaving foam markets dropped by 7.5 % and 3 % respectively. However, especially in the food market there still is good potential for growth in the next few years.

A significant amount of new production capacities was installed worldwide in 2012 in order to prepare the ground for further growth and to keep delivery times in acceptable limits. And there is more to come in 2013. “Especially in markets with promising growth prospects such as India and China capacities will be further expanded. Aerosol cans have become increasingly popular in these areas, and with rising disposable incomes more and more consumers will be able to afford aerosol cans which still have to be considered as a kind of “luxury” product there”, says AEROBAL President Takaaki Takeuchi.

In general market prospects for 2013 are satisfactory although forecasts have become extremely difficult in a market which is characterized by short-term order placing and delivery times as well as smaller lot sizes. If the general economic situation in Europe and North America, the two biggest aerosol markets, stays stable it is very much likely that world production will exceed the level of 7 billion aluminium aerosol cans this year.