The European tube market remains robust in the second year of the pandemic. The European Tube Manufacturers Association (Etma) reports stable deliveries of tubes in 2021, which exceeded the previous year's level by just under one per cent and reached a total volume of over 11.6 billion units.
However, the most important end customer markets developed differently. While deliveries to the pharmaceutical industry and the household products markets fell by around six per cent and eight per cent respectively in 2021, the Deliveries to the cosmetics market and the food sector each increased by around four per cent. Deliveries to the dental care market remained stable.
Pharmaceutical market weaker, demand for cosmetics picks up again
The decline in pharmaceutical tubes was mainly due to the fact that the number of prescription medicines, such as ointments packaged in tubes, fell as a result of fewer visits to doctors during the pandemic. On the other hand, there was a pleasing the revitalisation of the cosmetics market, which dominates in terms of volume, which recovered significantly compared to the previous year despite ongoing mobility restrictions and reduced leisure activities during the pandemic.
The food sector benefited above all from the fact that many households increasingly prepared their meals at home due to the pandemic. The dental care market, which is generally not very sensitive to economic cycles, proved to be very resilient in the second year of the pandemic and was able to match the previous year's impressive level.
As before, the deliveries of the Etma-Members Laminate tubes take the top spot with a share of 37 per cent, closely followed by aluminium tubes with 35%. The proportion of plastic tubes is 28 per cent.
Drastic cost increases in the energy sector
The European tube industry is still struggling with a number of exorbitant cost increases for raw materials, input materials and transport services.
„The prices for energy, lorry and container freight in particular have literally exploded in recent months and are causing the industry great concern. Only through far-sighted inventory and production planning by tube manufacturers has it been possible to maintain security of supply in the supply chain and avoid out-of-stock situations for customers and retailers.“
Mark Aegler, Etma President
In view of the currently satisfactory order intake situation European tube manufacturers are optimistic about the coming months, despite all the uncertainties in times of pandemic. „The tube packaging is still extremely popular with consumers and a real classic due to its easy handling, its lightness and unbreakability and its convincing resource efficiency,“ summarises Aegler.
SourceEtma : Etma