The global market for aseptically filled products continues to increase and now surpasses the 90 billion litres mark per year, translating into more than 190 billion packs worldwide per annum. Of this staggering number, around 45% of total volume is white milk products and about 40% corresponds to other beverages such as juices and nectars.
Cartons remain the most popular aseptic packaging type at over 70% of the total, but have been losing share in recent years to PET containers and pouches, both of which have advantages over cartons and are more user friendly for end-consumption occasions.
The global appetite for white milk continues to grow. Despite mature markets showing some declines in consumption, the rapid growth in Asia (especially China and other developing regions) has more than offset any declines in developed markets, sending global consumption higher.
UHT cartons maintain their leadership position in white milk products, but in developing markets such as Asia and Latin America, PET bottles and pouches are gaining market share. However, short life chilled milk still accounts for around two thirds of all white milk products worldwide (excluding raw milk), while aseptically filled white milk accounts for the remaining third.
(The Global Aseptic Packaging Report, to be issued in July 2012, will provide insights into the regional breakdown of white milk packaging trends.)
Not just white milk is aseptically filled in the dairy spectrum. Other dairy products of relevance include flavoured milk, cream, desserts and yogurt, coffee creamer, soft ice mix and thick shake base, among others. Globally, this category of other dairy products has grown vigorously.
In terms of aseptically packaged products, about 40 million units of other dairy products are sold per year and growing at 5%, translating to over 11 billion litres worldwide. Of this total, around half of all products are sold in cartons, with PET bottles representing some 13% and pouches another 10%.
Bag-in-box is a popular alternative for categories such as thick shake base, and accounts for 3% of volume sales.
In some categories, such as flavoured milk, aseptically filled products account for a small percentage of sales. Chilled products are favoured over ambient. However, distribution costs drop dramatically for ambient UHT flavoured milk vs chilled, and this is helping growth in carton sales of flavoured milk.
The practicality of UHT packaging alternatives for cream has moved manufacturers to consider aseptically filled containers for their products. In some markets, over 80% of all cream sold is in UHT containers. Sales of cream in bulk packs for bakeries and other industrial users are mostly sold in cartons.
There is an established market for the ambient dessert sales in several markets. For instance, the US is the largest market for ambient desserts, and sales continue to increase. There has been an evident increase in the number of aseptic plastic pot filling machines in developing countries, especially in China, India and Russia, where restricted chilled distribution means that ambient alternatives provide a great alternative.
The market for coffee creamers is mature and is concentrated in Europe, the US and Japan, with total sales surpassing 15 billion units. Most products are sold in small portions of about 10ml and contain milk, cream or non-dairy products and are filled on high-speed form-fill-seal machines. There is little growth in coffee creamers, yet aseptic packaging continues to play a dominant role.
See more about the report here.
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