Output of packaged beverages in the USA is forecast to approach 39BN gallons in 2010. As a result, demand for containers is set to reach 236BN units, valued at US$19.7BN. Production of packaged beverages will outpace shipments of unpackaged drinks such as fountain soft drinks & teas, draft beers, powdered mixes & bulk waters. The growth of beverage consumption, & related container sales, will be driven by healthy levels of consumer spending; expanding populations; increasing interest in enhanced or functional beverages, & beverages with possible health benefits; tap water safety concerns; & continued high levels of new product launches accompanied by aggressive marketing campaigns. These & other trends including market share, market leaders, market size & company profiles are presented in "Beverage Containers", a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland, Ohio-based industry research firm. Plastic containers continue to represent the growth segment of the beverage container industry, with a significant share of the market from traditional metal, glass and paperboard containers over the past several decades, and now hold 57% of total volume packaged. Advances will be driven by the strong outlook for PET bottled waters. While bottles remain dominant, more rapid growth is anticipated for pouches as ready-to-drink beverages are converted to pouch packaging based on advantages in terms of reduced material consumption and portability. Metal containers, the leading beverage container type in unit terms due to heavy usage in the sizable soft drink & beer markets, will see limited advances based on marginal growth in soft drink demand, a flat outlook for domestic beer production & progress by glass bottles in the beer market. Glass containers will experience a continuing recovery as large-scale replacements of glass with plastic have generally already taken place. Glass will continue to expand its share of the slow-growing beer container market as producers make efforts to compete against import beers & rely on premium beers in glass to achieve an up-market image. Also on 16/05/2006... Corning tender offer for USD 150 million... Glass Group: court OK on Chapter 11 plan... Owens-Illinois: rating for bank faciliti... Solvay Sodi: EUR 70 million into Deven p... USA: beverage container demand at 236 bi... Vitro Packaging: four prizes at GPI awar...
