In the first half of 2021, total deliveries of aluminium, plastic and laminate tubes increased slightly by 0.5% to a level of around six billion units despite the pandemic. This has now been reported by the European Tube Manufacturers Association (Etma).
While deliveries to the pharmaceutical industry fell by eleven per cent, deliveries to the dental care market increased by four per cent, to the cosmetics market by two per cent and to the food and household products markets by ten per cent and 13 per cent respectively, according to the industry association Etma.
Tube market weakens in the pharmaceutical sector
The significant decline in deliveries to the pharmaceutical sector is due to a drop in visits to doctors during the pandemic. This was accompanied by a drop in demand for prescription medicines, which are often packaged in tubes. The somewhat Brisker demand for cosmetic tubes This is due to the increasing mobility of consumers after the hard lockdowns, which are going out more frequently again, according to the Etma. The reopening of hairdressing and beauty salons following the temporary closures due to the pandemic also had a positive impact in this segment. The food and household sectors benefited in particular from the fact that consumers ate more meals at home and generally focussed more on well-being in their own four walls.
Etma members' deliveries continue to be characterised by the Laminate tubes take the top spot with a share of 38 per cent closely followed by aluminium tubes with 35%. The proportion of plastic tubes is 27 per cent.
Cost increases, but stable supply chains
The tube industry continues to face challenges, some of which are drastic cost increases for raw materials, input materials and services confronted with. Prices for aluminium, plastics, coatings, printing inks, closures, cardboard packaging and transport remain at a very high level. On a positive note, however, supply chains have held up so far, partly due to far-sighted planning by tube manufacturers. This has made it possible to avoid out-of-stock situations for customers.
The issue of sustainability, which is fuelled by legal measures in Europe and the member states, continues to be of central importance to packaging manufacturers, customers and retailers. Here, too, the Consumer-friendly and resource-efficient packaging tube score points. Overall, European tube manufacturers are looking with cautious optimism to the coming months.
SourceEtma : Etma
