Industrial Packaging Information

What is packaging?

As defined by the Wikipedia “Packaging is the science, art, and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use.”
 

However the role of packaging has changed over time. Although its primary use will always be to protect its contents, more and more marketers and companies see packaging as a way to portray their products/image. Packaging today is expression at its finest, colours, shapes, etc… some would even argue it’s a form of art.

 

Quick Packaging Facts

  • The global packaging market is valued at $459 billion in 2004. The packaging market grew by an estimated 7.5% as compared with 2003 levels, and 23% ahead of 1999 levels.
  • In 2004, North American markets, including the US, Canada and Mexico, accounted for the largest share of global packaging at $135 billion (29%), ahead of western Europe (27%) and Asia (27%).
  • The largest single national packaging market during 2004 was the US ($115 billion in sales), Japan was second ($55 billion), followed by China ($35 billion), Germany ($23 billion), and France ($21 billion).
  • The four largest European packaging markets are Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
  • The world’s top 10 packaging markets (2003) from largest to smallest; USA, Japan, China, Germany, France, Italy, UK, Canada, Russia and Spain.
  • Fastest growing national packaging markets (2004); Turkey, India, Poland, Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Lithuania and Egypt.
  • Industrial & Bulk Packaging global market for packaging was valued at $99 billion in 2004. At $29.3 billion, Asia is the single largest market with a 29% share.
  • In Western Europe, the country with the largest packaging consumption per capita is Switzerland… and by a wide margin!
  • In Eastern Europe, the region’s largest single market is Russia, where the value of packaging consumption amounted to about 11.4 billion in 2003, growing by an annual average of 34% since 1999.
  • The North American market for packaging products was valued at $131.9 billion in 2003. However, the country with the largest packaging consumption per capita is Canada.
  • Paper and board will remain the single largest element of the packaging market into 2009, driven on the one hand by rising demand in fast-growth national markets as well as steady growth in secondary/bulk packaging across the globe.
  • Metal packaging accounted for 17% of the market in 2004, and is set to grow steadily.

The “Quick Packaging Facts” information was given to Nefab to use from The Future of Global Packaging, a market study published by Pira International and the World Packaging Organization. Pira International ( www.intertechpira.com ) is a leading publisher, conference organiser and research organisation specialising in graphic arts, media and technology-led industries. The World Packaging Organisation is a not for profit, non-governmental, international federation of national packaging associations, institutes, regional packaging federations and other interested parties including corporations and trade associations.