Beer-in-PET market to reach 7.7 billion bottles by 2015: study

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Despite wobbles in the China/Asia market, global PET beer bottle consumption is forecast to grow at an annual growth rate of more than five per cent to reach 7.7 billion bottles by 2015, according to a new study published by market research firm Pira International.
According to the UK-based company’s “Future of Beer in PET Packaging” study, PET beer bottle consumption totaled 6.0 billion units in 2010, which represents two per cent of the 293 billion world beer packaging market volumes. Going forward, one of the main drivers will be market penetration into areas not suitable for glass, Pira said.
In Asia-Pacific, China will lead demand for beer in PET, but here, PET beer bottle growth has been generally lower than was originally anticipated, Pira said.
How will other regions fare? Western Europe is forecast to grow PET beer bottle consumption at a relatively low rate. North America and South and Central America are forecast to show growth in PET beer bottle consumption during the period 2010-15, but from a very low base.
“Central and Eastern Europe is the dominant market for PET beer bottles, and the region is expected to show good growth for beer in PET going forward, but at rates lower than the 2003-08 pre-recession era,” Pira said. “This is largely explained by growing market maturity and the imposition of higher taxes on beer in Russia and Ukraine.”
“PET is showing increased demand from a number of different categories including juices and nectars, ready-to-drink teas, functional drinks, flavoured waters and beer. PET bottles are convenient, practical, lightweight and unbreakable,” said Pira’s Adam Page. “However, many brand owners remain reticent when it comes to using PET packaging for beer. Despite not taking off on a large scale in many traditional beer-drinking countries, there is still a huge amount of interest in the potential for beer in PET due to the perceived advantages. New technologies are helping challenge some negative perceptions and create opportunities for brewers, brand owners, packaging converters and suppliers.”