Demand for beverage containers in the US is expected to increase by 1.7% annually up to 2017 to 265 bn units, valued at USD 29.1 bn, according to a recently published report, “Beverage containers”, from US market researcher Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio; www.freedonia.com). Gains will be driven by consumer preference for single-serving containers in many markets, increasing interest in alternatives to carbonated soft drinks and new product introductions accompanied by aggressive marketing campaigns, the study says. In addition, demographic trends, including gains in individuals born in the 1980s and 1990s as well as the older population, will bolster demand for certain beverages, such as wine, and related containers.

Plastic containers will remain the largest and fastest growing segment, with gains supported by good prospects for PET containers in the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea, sports drinks and other non-carbonated RTD beverage markets. Plastic containers will also benefit from solid growth in the bottled water market. Demand is forecast to grow by 2.9% annually through 2017, when it will reach 124 bn units.

Plastic bottles will further replace gabletop paperboard cartons, especially in the milk and fruit beverage markets, which, in turn, will lead to a decline in paperboard container demand. However, increasing maturity and environmental concerns related to the volume of PET bottles in landfills will hold back growth, the Freedonia report also noted.

Metal beverage containers, the second-largest beverage container type in unit terms, will register slow growth through 2017 as a result of declining soft drink production and small increases in beer production, the report says. Glass beverage container demand is forecast to post modest gains, supported by the entrenched position of bottles in wine packaging and solid growth in RTD tea.