US plastic container demand will grow 5.4 percent annually through 2012, driven by plastics many advantages over other packaging media. Plastic bottles and jars will remain the dominant category, while other types such as plastic cans and squeeze tubes grow the fastest. PET will continue as the leading plastic container resin.

This study analyzes the 13.5 billion pound US plastic container industry. It presents historical demand data (1997, 2002 and 2007) and forecasts for 2012 and 2017 by resin (e.g., PET, HDPE, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, LDPE) and product (e.g., bottles, jars, pails, tubs, cups and bowls, trays, cans, egg cartons, squeeze tubes).

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 37 industry competitors, including Graham Packaging, Amcor and Plastipak Packaging.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


SECTION                                                                        PAGE

                INTRODUCTION                                                     xi
                
          I.    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                                 1
                
         II.    MARKET ENVIRONMENT                                                4
                General                                                           4
                Macroeconomic Outlook                                             5
                Demographic & Household Trends                                   10
                Consumer Income & Spending Trends                                14
                Manufacturing Outlook                                            16
                Packaging Trends                                                 19
                Thermoplastic Resin Industry Outlook                             23
                Historical Market Trends                                         25
                Pricing Trends                                                   29
                Environmental & Regulatory Considerations                        31
                International Activity                                           35
                Foreign Trade                                                    37
                
        III.    CONTAINER RESINS                                                 40
                General                                                          40
                Polyethylene Terephthalate                                       43
                High Density Polyethylene                                        46
                Polypropylene                                                    49
                Polystyrene                                                      53
                Polyvinyl Chloride                                               55
                Low Density Polyethylene                                         57
                Other Resins                                                     58
                
         IV.    CONTAINER OVERVIEW                                               63
                General                                                          63
                Units                                                            64
                Weight                                                           68
                
          V.    BOTTLES & JARS                                                   73
                General                                                          73
                Bottles & Jars by Weight                                         76
                Bottles & Jars by Resin                                          79
                Beverages                                                        82
                    Beverage Industry Outlook                                    82
                    Plastic Beverage Bottles                                     85
                    Bottled Water                                                88
                      Bottled Water Outlook                                      88
                      Plastic Water Bottles                                      90
                    Carbonated Soft Drinks                                       94
                      Carbonated Soft Drink Outlook                              95
                      Carbonated Soft Drink Bottles                              96
                      Carbonated Soft Drink Bottles by Size                      98
                    Milk                                                        101
                      Milk Outlook                                              101
                      Plastic Milk Bottles                                      104
                    Other Beverages                                             108
                      Fruit Beverages                                           110
                      Sports Drinks                                             113
                      Other Nonalcoholic Ready-to-Drink Beverages               115
                      Alcoholic Beverages                                       117
                         Distilled Spirits                                      118
                         Beer                                                   119
                         Wine                                                   121
                Food                                                            122
                    Food Industry Outlook                                       122
                    Plastic Food Bottles & Jars                                 124
                      Sauces & Condiments                                       127
                      Dairy Products                                            130
                      Edible Oils                                               131
                      Other                                                     132
                Household Cleaning Chemicals                                    134
                    Household Cleaning Chemicals Outlook                        134
                    Plastic Household Cleaning Chemical Bottles                 136
                      Detergents                                                139
                         Dishwashing                                            140
                         Laundry                                                142
                      Kitchen & Bath Cleaners                                   144
                      Fabric Softeners                                          146
                      Bleach                                                    147
                      Other Household Cleaning Chemicals                        148
                Cosmetics & Toiletries                                          151
                    Cosmetic & Toiletry Industry Outlook                        152
                    Plastic Cosmetic & Toiletry Bottles & Jars                  155
                      Hair Care                                                 159
                      Skin Care                                                 163
                      Other Cosmetic & Toiletry Products                        166
                Pharmaceuticals                                                 168
                    Pharmaceutical Industry Outlook                             169
                    Plastic Pharmaceutical Bottles & Jars                       171
                      Liquids                                                   174
                      Powders, Tablets & Capsules                               176
                Industrial & Institutional Cleaning Chemicals                   178
                    I&I Cleaning Chemicals Outlook                              179
                    Plastic I&I Cleaning Chemical Bottles                       180
                Automotive Chemicals                                            182
                    Automotive Chemical Industry Outlook                        182
                    Plastic Automotive Chemical Bottles                         185
                      Automotive Lubricants                                     186
                      Antifreeze                                                188
                      Other Automotive Chemicals                                189
                Other Bottle & Jar Markets                                      191
                
         VI.    OTHER PLASTIC CONTAINERS                                        193
                General                                                         193
                Pails                                                           195
                    Open-Head                                                   198
                    Tight-Head                                                  199
                Tubs, Cups & Bowls                                              200
                    Resins                                                      204
                    Producers                                                   206
                Trays                                                           206
                    Foamed Polystyrene Trays                                    209
                    Crystallized PET Trays                                      211
                    Polypropylene Trays                                         212
                    APET & Other Trays                                          213
                Cans                                                            214
                    Applications                                                216
                    Producers                                                   218
                Egg Cartons                                                     219
                Squeeze Tubes                                                   221
                All Other Containers                                            225
                
        VII.    INDUSTRY STRUCTURE                                              227
                General                                                         227
                Industry Composition                                            228
                Market Leaders                                                  232
                    Graham Packaging                                            233
                    Amcor                                                       234
                    Plastipak Packaging                                         235
                    Consolidated Container                                      235
                    Coca-Cola Enterprises                                       236
                    Constar International                                       237
                    Ball                                                        237
                    Berry Plastics                                              237
                    Silgan Holdings                                             238
                    Other Leaders                                               238
                Acquisitions & Divestitures                                     239
                Marketing & Distribution                                        244
                Manufacturing                                                   246
                Research & Development                                          250
                Competitive Strategies                                          253
                Cooperative Agreements                                          255
                Company Profiles                                                258
                    Alcan, see Rio Tinto Group                                     
                    Alcoa Incorporated                                          259
                    Alga Plastics, see Sealed Air                                  
                    Alpla-Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Company KG                  260
                    Amcor Limited                                               261
                    Anchor Packaging Company                                    263
                    Airopack, see PVC Container                                    
                    Ball Corporation                                            265
                    Bemis Company Incorporated                                  266
                    Berry Plastics Group Incorporated                           268
                    Biosphere Industries, see Sealed Air                           
                    BWAY Corporation                                            272
                    Captive Plastics, see Berry Plastics Group                     
                    CKS Packaging Incorporated                                  273
                    Clear Pack, see Sonoco Products                                
                    Coca-Cola Enterprises Incorporated                          274
                    Consolidated Container Company LLC                          275
                    Constar International Incorporated                          277
                    Cryovac Food Packaging, see Sealed Air                         
                    Curwood, see Bemis                                             
                    Dart Container Corporation                                  279
                    Dolco Packaging, see Tekni-Plex                                
                    Drug Plastics and Glass Company Incorporated                281
                    Fabri-Kal Corporation                                       282
                    Genpak LLC, see Pattison (Jim) Group
                    GRAFCO PET Packaging Technologies, see Berry Plastics          
                    Graham Packaging Holdings Company                           284
                    Huhtamaki Oyj                                               286
                    Industrial Containers, see BWAY                                
                    Letica Corporation                                          288
                    LINPAC Group Limited                                        289
                    Liquid Container/Plaxicon Company                           290
                    Marpac, see PVC Container
                    Matrix Packaging, see Sonoco Products                          
                    Newspring Industrial, see Pactiv                               
                    NOVAPAK, see PVC Container                                     
                    Owens-Illinois Group Incorporated                           291
                    Pactiv Corporation                                          292
                    Pattison (Jim) Group                                        295
                    Plastican Incorporated                                      297
                    Plastipak Holdings Incorporated                             298
                    Polytainers Limited                                         300
                    Prairie Packaging, see Pactiv                                  
                    Pretium Packaging LLC                                       301
                    PVC Container Corporation                                   302
                    Rank Group Limited                                          304
                    Rexam plc                                                   306
                    Ring Container Technologies                                 308
                    Rio Tinto Group                                             310
                    Sealed Air Corporation                                      313
                    Silgan Holdings Incorporated                                315
                    Solo Cup Company                                            317
                    Sonoco Products Company                                     319
                    Tekni-Plex Incorporated                                     321
                Other Companies Mentioned in the Study                          323

                
                

                                 LIST OF TABLES
                                        
TABLE NUMBER                                                                   PAGE

                SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
                Summary Table                                                     3

                SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
           1    Macroeconomic Indicators                                         10
           2    Population & Households                                          14
           3    Personal Consumption Expenditures                                16
           4    Manufacturers' Shipments                                         19
           5    Packaging Supply & Demand                                        22
           6    Thermoplastic Resin Demand                                       24
           7    Plastic Container Market, 1997-2007                              28
           8    Thermoplastic Resin Pricing                                      31
           9    US Foreign Trade in Plastic Bottles                              39

                SECTION III -- CONTAINER RESINS
           1    Plastic Container Demand by Resin                                42
           2    Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Demand 
                    in Plastic Containers                                        46
           3    High Density Polyethylene Demand in Plastic Containers           49
           4    Polypropylene Demand in Plastic Containers                       53
           5    Polystyrene Demand in Plastic Containers                         55
           6    Polyvinyl Chloride Demand in Plastic Containers                  57
           7    Low Density Polyethylene Demand in Plastic Containers            58
           8    Other Resin Demand in Plastic Containers                         62

                SECTION IV -- CONTAINER OVERVIEW
           1    Plastic Container Demand in Units                                67
           2    Plastic Container Demand by Weight                               72

                SECTION V -- BOTTLES & JARS
           1    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Market in Units                   75
           2    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Market in Pounds                  78
           3    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Resin                             81
           4    Beverage Production                                              84
           5    Plastic Beverage Bottle Demand                                   87
           6    Plastic Water Bottle Demand                                      94
           7    Plastic Carbonated Soft Drink Bottle Demand                      98
           8    Plastic Carbonated Soft Drink Bottle Demand by Size             100
           9    Plastic Milk Bottle Demand                                      108
          10    Other Plastic Beverage Bottle Demand                            110
          11    Plastic Fruit Beverage Bottle Demand                            113
          12    Plastic Sports Drink Bottle Demand                              115
          13    Other Nonalcoholic Beverage Plastic Bottle Demand               116
          14    Plastic Alcoholic Beverage Bottle Demand                        118
          15    Food Product Shipments                                          124
          16    Plastic Food Bottle & Jar Demand                                127
          17    Plastic Sauce & Condiment Bottle & Jar Demand                   129
          18    Plastic Dairy Bottle Demand                                     131
          19    Plastic Edible Oils Bottle & Jar Demand                         132
          20    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand for Other Food                      133
          21    Household Cleaning Chemical Shipments                           136
          22    Plastic Household Cleaning Chemical Bottle Demand               138
          23    Plastic Detergent Bottle Demand                                 140
          24    Plastic Dishwashing Detergent Bottle Demand                     142
          25    Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottle Demand                         144
          26    Plastic Kitchen & Bath Cleaner Bottle Demand                    146
          27    Plastic Fabric Softener Bottle Demand                           147
          28    Plastic Bleach Bottle Demand                                    148
          29    Other Plastic Household Cleaning Chemical Bottle Demand         150
          30    Cosmetic & Toiletry Shipments                                   155
          31    Plastic Cosmetic & Toiletry Bottle & Jar Demand                 159
          32    Plastic Hair Care Product Bottle & Jar Demand                   162
          33    Plastic Skin Care Product Bottle & Jar Demand                   165
          34    Other Plastic Cosmetic & Toiletry Bottle & Jar Demand           168
          35    Pharmaceutical Supply & Demand                                  170
          36    Plastic Pharmaceutical Bottle & Jar Demand                      174
          37    Plastic Liquid Pharmaceutical Bottle & Jar Demand               176
          38    Plastic Powder, Tablet & Capsule Bottle & Jar Demand            178
          39    I&I Cleaning Chemical Shipments                                 180
          40    Plastic I&I Cleaning Chemical Bottle Demand                     182
          41    Automotive Chemical Demand                                      184
          42    Plastic Automotive Chemical Bottle Demand                       186
          43    Plastic Automotive Lubricant Bottle Demand                      187
          44    Plastic Antifreeze Bottle Demand                                189
          45    Other Plastic Automotive Chemical Bottle Demand                 190
          46    Other Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand                               192

                SECTION VI -- OTHER PLASTIC CONTAINERS
           1    Other Plastic Container Demand                                  194
           2    Plastic Pail Demand                                             198
           3    Plastic Tub, Cup & Bowl Demand                                  203
           4    Plastic Tray Demand                                             208
           5    Plastic Can Demand                                              215
           6    Plastic Egg Carton Demand                                       221
           7    Plastic Squeeze Tube Demand                                     224
           8    All Other Plastic Container Demand                              226

                SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
           1    US Plastic Container Sales by Company, 2007                     230
           2    Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures                            242
           3    Selected Cooperative Agreements                                 257

                                 LIST OF CHARTS
                                        
CHART NUMBER                                                                   PAGE

                SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
           1    Thermoplastic Resin Demand, 2007                                 25
           2    Plastic Container Market, 1997-2007                              29

                SECTION III -- CONTAINER RESINS
           1    Plastic Container Demand by Resin, 2007                          42

                SECTION IV -- CONTAINER OVERVIEW
           1    Plastic Container Demand in Units, 2007                          68
           2    Plastic Container Demand by Weight, 2007                         72

                SECTION V -- BOTTLES & JARS
           1    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Market in Units, 2007             76
           2    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Market in Pounds, 2007            79
           3    Plastic Bottle & Jar Demand by Resin, 2007                       81
           4    Plastic Carbonated Soft Drink Bottle Demand by Size, 2007       101
           5    Plastic Household Cleaning Chemical Bottle Demand, 2007         139

                SECTION VI -- OTHER PLASTIC CONTAINERS
           1    Other Plastic Container Demand by Type, 2007                    195

                SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
           1    US Plastic Container Industry Market Share, 2007                233