Food, pharma top markets for global growth of clamshells, blisters

A new report from Global Industry Analysts predicts the global blister and other high-visibility packaging market will reach US$32.5 billion by 2015.

Increase in consumer incomes, improved lifestyles and westernization coupled with competent marketing practices have widened the market for packaged consumer goods. The trend fueled the demand for blister and other high-visibility packaging solutions, especially in developing markets such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The food industry sustains momentum as the largest end-use market for blister and other high-visibility packaging industry. World over, the rising demand for convenient, easy-to-prepare, semi-processed food products is on a continual basis creating opportunities for blister and other high-visibility packages.

The pharmaceutical industry follows next, with its rising need for FDA compliant, patient-friendly and child-resistant packages.

End-use industries are increasingly turning towards packaging solutions that would enhance the visual appeal of their products, ensuring immediate sales. In addition, the emphasis is also towards packaging solutions that offer added benefits including communicative graphic design, increased shelf life and packaging flexibility among others.

The aging world population is creating a demand for senior-friendly packages, and this is expected to dole out expanded business opportunities in the blister and other high-visibility packaging solutions market.

All of these factors, among several others, lay down a strong foundation for future market growth. High-visibility packaging industry is contesting against increasing demand for healthy food, rising cost of material and convenience-oriented products, which require substrate combinations and innovative technologies to satisfy packaging needs.

The global packaging industry is yet to completely recover from the adverse impact of the economic crisis in the past couple of years. Nevertheless, with the recovery anticipated in the larger packaging sector and the expected demand increase from end-use industries, the world market for blister and other high visibility packaging in developed nations is likely to register moderate growth in the near future. Complete recovery for the market is not expected until the year 2014.

Europe, powered by high demand from Central and Eastern European countries, represents the largest regional market worldwide. In addition to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the U.S. constitute the other significant blister packaging markets. China and India drive growth in the Asia-Pacific market, promising rapid growth at the highest compounded annual rate of 3.8 percent for the analysis period.

Clamshell packaging makes up for greater part of high-visibility packaging market. Increasing preference for convenience, natural and high freshness food drives overall growth for clamshells. The segment emerges as the clear winner, constituting the largest chunk of the market.

The report "Blister and Other High Visibility Packaging: A Global Strategic Business Report" provides a comprehensive review of the packaging industry, end-use market analysis, technological developments, product innovations, recent industry activity and profiles of market players worldwide. Analysis and overview is provided for major geographic markets such as U.S., Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World.

Market analytics are provided in terms of Value (US$) for product segments including Carded Blister Packaging, Clamshells, Windowed Packaging, Skin Packaging and Others. The study also provides historic data for an insight into market evolution over the period 2000 through 2006.

Key participants in the report include Amcor Ltd., Bemis Co. Inc., Klöckner Pentaplast GmbH & Co. KG, MeadWestvaco Corp., Pactiv Corp., Reynolds Packaging Group, SCA Group, Sealed Air Corp., Sonoco Products Co. and Tegrant Corp.

Source: Global Industry Analysts Inc.