Market Trends of Asia Pacific Metal Cans Industry
Convenience and Lower Price Offered by Canned Food to Drive the Market Growth
- The canned food market is seeing a rise in innovative packaging due to the growing demand for chemical-free options. Many brands of canned food products have started offering food in BPA-free containers.
- The demand for sealed and tamper-proof steel container food is high, as they protect food from harmful bacteria. Also, due to consumers' busy lifestyles, canned food is expected to gain more importance.
- Pet food packaging can significantly influence the quality and safety of the food product by providing barriers to moisture and other environmental conditions that may result in contamination and spoilage. Metal is commonly used in pet food packaging, typically tin or aluminum, and is tightly sealed to prevent any food, odors, or leaks from escaping.
- Limited design flexibility and inconvenience in opening the cans have been the significant disadvantages of metal pet food cans. This segment is trying to increase its competitiveness by emphasizing steel cans' safety and environmental friendliness, owing to their recyclability and use of recycled content. Pet food packaged in metal cans is preferred over plastic alternatives due to cans' tight seal and tamper evidence.
- Other advantages include its low cost, long shelf life, durability, and amenability to wet food products. Additionally, easy opening ends are expected to support continued opportunities. Fast-filling speeds and line efficiencies of metal food cans also make manufacturers reluctant to shift production to plastic alternatives, which are slower to manufacture and involve added production costs.
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India to Witness Significant Growth
- In recent years, the Indian beverage industry has seen a significant shift in juice packaging. This evolution goes beyond merely following trends; it reflects changing consumer preferences and a growing awareness of environmental issues. In light of this, manufacturers are prioritizing sustainable product launches in India.
- In 2024, Ball Corporation partnered with Del Monte Foods, a global leader in innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging. Both companies are committed to sustainability, aligning with the Indian government's ambitious goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and cutting carbon intensity by 45% by 2030. With Ball's backing, Del Monte Foods moved from traditional three-piece tin cans to infinitely recyclable two-piece aluminum beverage cans.
- Additionally, the recent regulation on the ban on single-use plastics is expected to grow plastic packaging growth, which is scheduled to be enforced once the discussion with all the stakeholders is concluded. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is reviewing the ban on using single-use plastic materials to accommodate eco-friendly alternatives.
- With the growth of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage market, the demand for metal can packages is expected to increase significantly in the country. For instance, according to the Craft Brewers Association of India, the number of microbreweries in India galloped from 20 to 120 in the past five years.
- The Aluminum Beverage Can Association of India (ABCAI) consortium is pushing for a shift from plastic and glass packaging to aluminum. Aluminum cans hold a mere 5% share of the country's packaging landscape, but ABCAI aims to elevate this figure to approximately 25% by 2030.
- Also, the Ministry of Mines data reveals that primary aluminum production rose from 40.73 lakh tons (LT) in FY 2022-2023 to 41.59 LT in FY 2023-2024, marking a growth rate of 2.1%. This increase in aluminum production signals a burgeoning demand for metal cans. Given that producing metal cans heavily relies on aluminum, the increased production volume indicates that manufacturers are ramping up metal can production to cater to this surging consumer appetite.
- Moreover, the proliferation in the beer market by newer companies in the country is helping the Indian metal can segment. Ball Corporations also provide metal cans that meet the requirement of beverage products, with an annual capacity of 1.3 billion cans in India. According to the Ball Corporation, the consumption in India is less than one can per capita, which presents a massive opportunity for metal packaging providers to tap into the emerging market.
- Also, collaborations between beverage companies and can manufacturers in India fuel the growth of the metal cans market. For example, in 2024, United Breweries of India, a subsidiary of HEINEKEN, partnered with CANPACK to unveil a limited-edition beer prominently featuring a feminine theme. This new premium lager, dubbed 'Queenfisher', is designed to complement the company's flagship 'Kingfisher' brand.
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