According to a new study, US demand for beverage containers is expected to grow by 1.7%/year to reach 224BN units in 2007, valued at US$17.5BN. Beverage sales will be driven by healthy levels of consumer spending, favourable demographic trends, tap water safety concerns, high levels of new product introduction and marketing activity, and the further development of non-traditional distribution channels. Plastic containers will show the highest growth pushed by increased demand for PET bottled water and single service soft drinks bottles. Cans face further losses and glass is expected to make steady inroads, especially in the premium beers and in the growing malternatives sub-segment. Prospects will improve for glass containers as their replacement in the soft drink, milk, isotonic and water markets has been largely completed.
