Report Reveals Opportunities in Folding Carton Market

Consumer electronics continue to offer great opportunities for folding cartons and microflute packs with the continued global growth in demand for mobile phones, tablets, and other personal devices.

The health care sector, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the folding cartons demand, will see a call for the development of smart packs able to provide a system for monitoring patient medication. The level of counterfeit goods, and the health threats these products pose, is stimulating demand for sophisticated track-and-trace systems in the form of either 1D barcodes, 2D barcodes or RFID systems.

Global demand for convenience foods and the development of niche markets such as low calorie products are growth opportunities for both the dry and frozen foods sectors. In the confectionery market, perceived over-packaging has been a focus of consumer discontent, leading to considerable innovation in the packaging of seasonal products such as Easter eggs and Christmas gift packs.

According to the report, personal care market has shown a rapid recovery from the global recession and growth is being stimulated by the use of technology in the form of social media, mobile commerce and in-store digital technologies, targeting the tech-savvy young consumer. Eco-friendly brands are gaining prominence and demand for innovating printing techniques such as Fresnel lenses is growing.

Globally, cartonboard production grew by 1.3 percent in 2012 to reach a total of 42.5 million tons, valued at $37.3 billion, with more than half of this volume located in the Asia-Pacific sector. The top five producers of cartonboard constituted almost 16 percent of the total volume in 2012, with the top ten making up over a quarter. The 20 largest producers accounted for 40 percent of the market. Total volume of converted folding carton grew by over one percent to reach 47.4 million tons in 2012, with 55 percent of this emanating in the Asia-Pacific sector. The five largest cartonboard converters make up almost seven percent of this somewhat fragmented market, while the ten largest converters accounted for more than nine percent of the volume in 2012.

"The Future of Folding Cartons to 2018" is essential reading for anyone working in packaging industry. It is available from Smithers Pira for £3950 /$6300. For more information, please contact: Heather Adams (Americas) T: +1 (207)781-9632 or Bill Allen (EU + Asia) T: +44 (0) 1372-802086

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