PET bottles remain the stand out beverage packaging item, with global off-trade demand up by 6% in 2010, and enjoying buoyant sales in soft drinks through health-oriented uptake of juices and RTD tea. A much smaller player in the alcoholic drinks arena, the PET bottle is making inroads in the glass stronghold of wine and spirits, with launches offering value-oriented and safe on-the-go propositions.

The best volume performance and prospects for glass in beverages will be derived from consumption growth in emerging markets, headed by Asia and Latin America. In saturated European and North American markets, growing consumer interest in craft, low ABV and premium beer presents openings for added-value glass.

A shift to healthier soft drinks has a detrimental impact on beverage can sales in carbonates. Beer, however, has a far more positive outlook for the can, with China to lead global growth. Development of the country's retail infrastructure ,driven by rising wealth, sees beverage cans displace glass as a modern pack solution.

After a difficult 2010, Eastern Europe is showing a return to growth. Russia and Ukraine, hardest hit by the economic crisis, show more positive macroeconomic performance and potential in 2011. High excise duties placed on alcohol impinges on absolute packaging growth potential, but rising incomes and growing interest in premium beverages augurs well for packaging volume growth.

Performance and Prospects for Beverage Packaging Materials: 2011 is providing more resilient performance for all beverage packaging materials as economies recover from the downturn. PET bottles hold greatest volume growth potential of all pack formats, extending their presence in soft drinks, deriving gains from health-aligned consumer intake of juices and RTD tea and through more niche avenues in wine and spirits. Emerging Asia and Latin America markets present strongest opportunities for packagers, with China and India to head up global growth to 2014.

The Performance and Prospects for Beverage Packaging Materials global briefing available from Companiesandmarkets.com offers an insight into to the size and shape of the packaging market, highlights the effect of emerging geographies, categories and consumer trends on the packaging landscape. It identifies the leading pack types, offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the packaging market - be they packaging innovations, consumption growth, category switching, economic/lifestyle influences, legislation or environmental issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change and criteria for success.

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