US demand for aseptic packaging to reach US$5.1 billion in 2015, says research

According to a newly published report from Freedonia, US demand for aseptic packaging is projected to rise by 8.0% per year, reaching US$5.1 billion in 2015.

The research report titled "Aseptic Packaging to 2015" analyzes the US$3.5 billion US aseptic packaging industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010, and forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by product (eg, plastic bottles, vials and ampuls, prefillable syringes, bags and pouches, cartons, cups, glass bottles) and market (eg, pharmaceuticals, beverages, food).

Freedonia explains in the report that the growth will be driven by drug sterility requirements and ambient distribution and storage advantages for food and beverages. It will also be supported by growing interest in natural and minimally processed food and beverage products, as the short heating time and lower temperature of aseptic processing minimizes loss of flavor and nutrients and offers extended shelf life without preservatives.

The study predicts that there will be above-average growth in pharmaceutical applications, and prefillable syringes will represent the fastest growing aseptic packaging product type through 2015, thanks to further introduction of biotechnology-based drugs, along with safety and convenience advantages and the prevalence of chronic conditions necessitating lifetime drug regimens. In addition, above-average growth for plastic bottles is forecast following expanding food and beverage applications and ongoing opportunities in the pharmaceutical market.