BATH, United Kingsom - The world market for aseptically packed products amounted to 123 billion litres in 269 billion packs during 2011, according to the new Global Aseptic Packaging Report from Zenth International and Warrick Research.
Volumes have grown by just over five percent since 2008, with South/South East Asia achieving the fastest rise at 22 percent per year, according to Zenith International.
White drinking milk accounts for 39 percent of aseptically packed products, with beverages responsible for 37 percent and other dairy or food products making up the remainder, Zenith said. Aseptic filling has yet to make a significant impact in food markets, but there are some established niche applications such as sauces, tomato products and baby food.
"The market for aseptic packaging developed in Europe and the industry supplying it has been centered on Europe," said David Warrick, director of Warrick Research. "This report shows the market shift to Asia in the past four years and raises the prospect of this continuing in the next few years."
Other findings of the 2012 Global Aseptic Packaging Report include:
- There are over 13,000 operational aseptic filling systems worldwide, and more than 40 companies supply aseptic filling systems.
- The largest regional markets for aseptic packaging are set to be China and South/South East Asia, both overtaking West Europe as the former largest region.
- World use of aseptic packaging has reflected global economic trends. Usage has been static in much of Europe, while there has been rapid growth in many countries across Asia.
- Value-added dairy products will be a fast-growing area of demand for aseptic filling systems. In some regions, fillers are used for both ambient and chilled products.
By 2016, Zenith and Warrick estimate that the world market for aseptic packaging will reach 153 billion litres, using 333 billion packs. The majority of additional demand will come from South/South East Asia and China, where growth is forecast at 11 percent per year and 3.5 percent per year, respectively.
Further detail on the report can be found here.