Rexam's sale of its European glassworks (worth EUR 660M) to Irish group Ardagh Glass will considerably affect the Polish container glass sector. Ardagh Glass, hitherto owner of one Polish glassworks in Ujscie in Wielkopolskie province, will take possession of another two sites, in Gostyn and Wyszkow. The latter have long been Ujscie's major competitors, competing for the same range of customers. Brewers have taken advantage of their rivalry, forcing both companies to gradually reduce prices. As regards the Polish glass bottle market, the leader to date has been Owens Illinois Polska with 40% market share, followed by Ardagh, Rexam and Warta Glass Group, each with a 20% share. Polish can and glass bottle manufacturer Can-Pack S.A. has recently acquired a glassworks in Orzesze.
