German container glass market significantly improved in 2021 - Sales volumes up 3.9 percent last year
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Sales of container glass in tons rose sharply by 3.9 percent in 2021 compared with the same period last year. Developments in Germany (up 1.7 percent) and foreign sales (up 8.3 percent) were also clearly positive. Sales volumes in the individual segments developed differently and were again impacted by the ongoing Corona pandemic. In contrast to the previous year, however, there was an increased shift out of the domestic sector, as consumers were still drawing on the stocks built up in 2020; on the other hand, celebratory occasions were again more widely used.
Sales of beverage bottles for non-alcoholic beverages decline
Sales in the beverage bottle segment in 2021 show a positive trend compared to the previous year, rising by 4.7 percent. A look at the sub-segments shows an increase in sales in the beer and spirits (up 5.7 percent) and wine and sparkling wine (up 9.2 percent) segments. By contrast, sales of non-alcoholic beverages (water, milk and juice) fell by 10.8 percent. This decline in sales is put into perspective when one considers that increases in non-alcoholic beverages have been around 10 percent in each of the last two years. The extensive lifting of Corona-related restrictions led to a recovery in the alcoholic beverage segments.
Food packaging glass sales stable
The segment of packaging glass for food and packaging glass for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics closed 2021 on a positive note with a sales volume development of 2.3 percent. The sub-segments developed differently: in the case of packaging glass for food without OGS (fruit, vegetables and canned sauces), sales volumes fell by 1 percent in 2021. The sub-segment of packaging glass with OGS closed the year as a whole with an increase of 6.8 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Dr. Johann Overath, Chief Executive Officer of the German Glass Industry Association (Bundesverband Glasindustrie e.V.), commented, "The year 2021 was still dominated by the Corona pandemic, but has led to a widespread reversal of the previous year's results in the segments of the container glass industry. Consumers stockpiled and relied on glass containers for this purpose, knowing that food and beverages are best protected inside and that there will be no interaction between contents and packaging, even in the longer term. There is hardly a better proof of confidence in container glass. Knowing this, we look to the future with confidence - even if current political events bring major challenges."
