Press release:

European tube market continues to grow

The European tube market presented a stable picture in the first half of 2023. The european tube manufacturers association (etma) reports growth in shipments of just under 2 percent to a total volume of around 6.2 billion units.

Growth was driven by deliveries to the pharmaceutical market, which increased by a good 5 percent. Demand from the cosmetics and dental care markets also developed positively, with an increase of around 2 percent in each case. Shipments to the food sector stagnated, while demand for tubes for household and technical products fell significantly by around 20 percent.

“Overall, we are very satisfied with the results in the first half of the year, as the volume-dominant sales markets in particular have developed positively,” emphasizes etma President Mark Aegler.

Bottlenecks in high-quality recycling materials

Customers are increasingly pushing for the use of recycled material in tubes as part of their sustainability concepts. However, there are bottlenecks in the availability of high quality post consumer recycling materials.

“For plastic tubes, the required volumes will certainly not be realized via mechanical recycling of used plastic packaging alone. Chemical recycling can be an additional option for closing the gap, especially for complex composite structures. Appropriate political requirements are needed here at the European level so that the necessary investments in recycling capacities can take place,” Aegler knows.

Outlook for the rest of 2023 subject to uncertainties

The situation on the raw material and energy markets has eased further. However, price levels remain above pre-Corona or pre-war levels. The situation regarding labor costs and the availability of labor also remains extremely tight. In addition, the weak economy in Europe and continuing high inflation are weighing on consumers’ purchasing power and propensity to spend.

“The political and economic environment remains difficult. Despite a still high order backlog, some tube manufacturers are now recording slightly declining order intake. Although there is currently no reason to complain, forecasts for market development in the second half of the year are subject to considerable uncertainty,” summarizes Aegler.