EU glass packaging production bounced back to pre-recession levels in 2011 as output jumped over 4% to almost 22m tonnes, according to FEVE, who reported that overall production in Europe last year was 21.7M/tonnes, against 20.8M/tonnes in 2010. Taking into account market diversification and lightweighting, the association estimated that more than 50 BN units were produced in Europe at 160 plants. Production was up in each of the three largest glass producers in the bloc. France's output rose 5% to 3.3M/tonnes, while Germany registered a 7% jump to just over 4M/tonnes. Production in Italy rose just 1.8% to 3.5M/tonnes. In the UK, volumes fell 0.8% to 2.3M/tonnes, but this was still 150,000/tonnes up on 2006 levels. Turkey saw a healthy rise in 2011 with output increasing 5% to 822,000/tonnes. The figures include production of all types of glass containers, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumery. Stefan Jaenecke, FEVE president said: "The year 2011 marked a strong recovery of the industry production volumes to satisfy an increasing local demand but also a rise of exports outside Europe." He added that glass was increasingly able to stand its ground against rival materials that have in recent years taken large bits out of glass' market share. "This clearly confirms that the industry is a very stable economic reality in Europe, notwithstanding increasing competition from other materials and an unclear economic framework," said Jaenecke.
