Rexam PLC, global consumer packaging company, on Monday announced that it is to increase its beverage can making capacity to meet the continued growth of the Brazilian market. The new plant, which will be located close to the city of Bel?m in the north of the country, will have a capacity of 1.2bn cans and is expected to be operational by mid 2012. Rexam’s total can capacity in Brazil will increase from c. 11bn at the beginning of 2011 to c.14bn by the end of 2012.

At the start of 2011, the packaging giant announced that it had signed a long term contract with its largest customer in Brazil which underpins returns on current and future capital investment plans. The new plant is included in these plans.

The building of the new plant will allow Rexam to meet growing customer demand in the coming years and to optimise logistics. The north and north east of Brazil have about a third of the country’s population and are the fastest growing regions in the country. Around a third of new investments by Rexam’s Brazilian customers are concentrated to these regions.

Globalmalt