Growth in consumption of single-serve beverages is driving growth in the US caps and closures market for non-carbonated beverages, says Transparency Market Research (TM Research, Albany, New York / USA; www.transparencymarketresearch.com). The US caps and closures market for non-carbonated beverages market is forecast to expand by an average of 4.3% per year from USD 2.64 bn (EUR 2.5 bn) in 2016 to USD 3.82 bn in 2016, lifted by a switch by consumers away from carbonated beverages amid the global obesity crisis, the market research company says in a new report. Consumers are increasingly demanding smaller bottles and convenience packaging, it says.

Constraints to growth include the high cost of replacing manufacturing equipment and the switching costs associated with changing from two-piece to one-piece caps. “Conventional manufacturers are also facing a solid competition from closure-less packaging,” says the report. The US caps and closures market for non-carbonated beverages is also being restricted by the stringent regulations by the FDA and the high number of cases against companies regarding sealing breaches, it adds.

PP is the main material used to produce caps and closures for non-carbonated beverages in the US, accounting for 60% of the market, or 47.4 bn units, in 2016. LDPE was the second most widely used material in 2016, followed by PS and HDPE. HDPE is becoming increasingly popular, as a result of its cost advantages and easier availability compared with other materials, and because of the increased adoption of HDPE one-piece injection moulded closures. Demand for HDPE for US caps and closures for non-carbonated beverages is predicted to grow by 13% per year to 2024, says TM Research.

Bottled water is the leading application for the US caps and closures market for non-carbonated beverages, with demand for caps and closures for water bottles expected to expand by an average of 6.1% year over the forecast period and account for 69.3% of the market by 2024. The ready-to-drink segment accounted for 8.4% in 2016 and is expected to expand by 9.8% per year to 2024.

Key players in the US caps and closures market for non-carbonated beverages include Closure Systems International, Silgan Plastic Closure Solutions, Bericap, Global Closure Systems, AptarGroup, Berry Plastics, Amcor, O.Berk Co, Blackhawk Molding and Tecnocap.