U.S. packaging machinery surpasses $6 billion
Shipments of packaging machinery in the U.S. reached $6.1 billion last year, an increase of 6% over 2005.
This marks
the fifth consecutive year of growth, according
to PMMI’s 2007 Shipments and
Outlook Study.
Sixteen of seventeen categories experienced
growth last year. And two
categories, wrapping (+18.6%) and capping,
overcapping, lidding and sealing
machinery (+11.2%) enjoyed doubledigit
growth. Converting machinery
was the only category with a modest
decline (-0.6%).
Packaging machiner y exports
reached $1.01 billion, an increase of
0.5%. Domestic demand increased by
8.4% to $6.6 billion. Domestic shipments
were up 7.2% to $5.1 billion and
imports were up 12.6% with $1.5 billion
in sales.
“U.S. demand for packaging machinery
has been strong for the past
three years with 9.8% growth in 2004,
7.6% growth in 2005, and last year’s
8.4% growth,” notes Charles D. Yuska,
president and CEO of PMMI. “While
things have slowed this year, capacity
remains high, and we expect consumer-
goods companies to continue
past buying patterns.”
PMMI, Arlington, Va., is a trade association
of more than 500 manufacturers
of packaging and related converting
machinery in the U.S. and Canada.