The International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) reports that global shipments by its members declined by 1.2 percent in 2021 to around 5.6 billion units.
While the main end-use market of deodorants remained roughly at the previous year's level, deliveries to the hair mousses, shaving foams and food markets increased, in some cases by double digits. By contrast, the segments for hair sprays, sun care and pharmaceutical products, as well as for disinfectants, household and technical articles, were weaker than in the previous year.
The slight decline in shipments was mainly due to lower demand from the EU member states plus the United Kingdom. Overall, the North and South American markets were roughly level with the previous year, while deliveries to Asia and the Middle East even increased, in some cases significantly.
Sustainability is high on customers’ agenda
"Demand for sustainable packaging solutions remains high on customers' agendas. The manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans are delivering convincing concepts here," knows AEROBAL President Leopold Werdich. For example, the ecological footprint of the cans is being sustainably improved through targeted weight reductions and the use of optimized coating systems. Overall, there is a trend in the market towards less complex can shapes, which creates greater leeway for weight reductions. The excellent sustainability performance of aluminium aerosol cans is rounded off by the optimum recyclability of aluminium, which can be recycled almost indefinitely without any loss of quality. Here, it is crucial that globally efficient collection and sorting keep the valuable material in the cycle.
Cautiously optimistic outlook for 2022
Order intake in the first quarter of 2022 so far bodes well for aluminium aerosol can manufacturers' business in the first half of the year. Due to the revitalization of marketing activities on the customer side, increased relaunch activities can be observed in the market. But the ongoing global corona pandemic, exorbitantly high energy prices driving inflation with corresponding loss of consumer purchasing power, and tensions in the supply chain for electronic control parts for machinery are dampening the industry’s mood.
By far the greatest concern for manufacturers, however, is the war in Ukraine with the accompanying uncertainty and upheavals in the markets.
