Gains in the beverage container market will be driven in part by rapid growth in packaged beverage
consumption, and the growing use of single-serving containers and smaller container sizes.
Demand in China to rise
9.6% yearly through 2015
Demand for beverage containers in
China is projected to rise 9.6 percent per
year through 2015 to 469.5 billion units.
In value terms, demand for beverage
containers is expected to reach ¥314.0
billion in 2015 on annual growth of 13.3
percent, which is faster than unit growth
due to rising prices. Gains in the beverage
container market will be driven by
rapid growth in packaged beverage
consumption, supported by an increase
in personal income and expenditure
levels. Other factors supporting growth
include the growing use of single-serving
containers and smaller container sizes,
and the ongoing debut of new products.
Plastic containers to
remain largest segment
Plastic beverage containers will continue
to account for the largest share of total
sales, reaching nearly 223 billion units in
2015 and reflecting their widespread use
in the Chinese beverage industry.
Demand will benefit from plastic containers’
low cost and expanding usage in
almost every beverage market, as well
as from technological improvements.
Advances will also be driven by their
advantages over other materials,
including shatter resistance, light weight,
ability to be produced in diverse sizes
and shapes, and resealability. Moreover,
single-serving plastic containers will
continue to make inroads into the
market, leading to increases in unit
growth, as well as further declines in the
average plastic container size. Polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) will remain the
dominant plastic container material,
benefiting from its versatility, clarity, and
good performance in hot-fill and cold-fill
applications. Water has become the
largest market for plastic containers due
to increased bottled water production.
Demand for glass bottles, the second
largest container type, will increase 7.0
percent per year through 2015. Gains
will continue to benefit from favorable
trends in beer consumption and the
expanding use of nonreturnable beer
bottles. Opportunities will also be found
where glass is valued for its premium
image, quality and ability to differentiate
new products. Healthy growth of glass
bottle sales is also expected in the fruit
beverage market.
Paperboard containers
to be fastest growing
Fast growth is expected for paperboard
containers, as unit demand increases
11.1 percent annually through 2015.
Opportunities for paperboard containers
are expected in the packaging of milk,
fruit beverages, and other nonalcoholic
beverages. In particular, aseptic cartons
will post strong growth, benefiting from
their ability to provide lengthy shelf life at
room temperature. Gains for metal cans
will be close to the overall average
growth for beverage containers.
Study Scope
This study analyzes the 297 billion unit beverage container industry in China. It presents historical demand data for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010, and forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by market (e.g., water, milk, fruit beverages, carbonated soft drinks, RTD teas, beer, distilled spirits, wine, rice wine) and material (plastic, glass, paperboard, metal, ceramic).
The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 28 industry participants, including Tetra Laval International, Ball and Zhuhai Zhongfu.
