The glass packaging industry in Europe posted a 3.5 per cent year-on year production increase to 20.7 m tonnes in 2010 as output partially recovered from its 2009 slump.The European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) said the sector had reacted strongly to impact of the financial crisis.
The output statistics relate to food and beverage, flacons for perfumery, cosmetics and pharmacy.
The body’s figures included the EU 27 nations as well as Switzerland and Turkey; with the latter recording a 27 per cent increase in glass packaging manufacturing to 779K tonnes.
The output for companies from the EU27 countries was 19.9 m tonnes, compared to 19.3 m tonnes the previous year – an increase of 2.8 per cent. The trade group highlighted a 9.5 per leap in UK production to 2.3m tonnes, along with Italy’s 5.2 per cent rise to 3.5 m tonnes. In Poland, production climbed 5.7 per cent to 960 000 tonnes.
In France and Germany, two of Europe’s biggest glass packaging producers, output remained broadly stable - with the former posting a 0.2 per increase at just under 3.8m tonnes, while the latter recorded a decrease of 0.1 per cent to 3.1m tonnes.
"The industry was able to react firmly to the impact of the previous year's financial crisis and to maintain its place as a key player in the packaging market notwithstanding the harsh competition,” said FEVE president Niall Wall.
The trade body chief said that for some products like milk, yoghurt and baby food “consumer demand for glass packaging is not being met because of the lack of choice on supermarket shelves".
The figures came as good news for an industry that saw demand plummet by almost 9 per cent in 2009 in the wake of the global recession. EU27 output fell by 1.9 m tonnes to 19.3 m tonnes.
During this year, German, Italian and French output each dropped by 400 000 tonnes.
Over the past decade, glass packaging production in France has tumbled by more than 17 per cent and fallen by 11 per cent in Germany. However, over the same period it has increased 8 per cent in Italy, while countries such as Spain, Portugal and Turkey have seen huge gains – albeit from much lower starting points.
