United States-based original equipment manufacturers of packaging machinery shipped an estimated $5.851 billion (€5.38bn) in packaging equipment in 2002, up $26 million from 2001, while in Europe German manufacturers continue to dominate.
With the results, US packaging machinery manufacturers continue to maintain their lead in the world's packaging machinery marketplace, according to figures released by the Confederation of Packaging Machinery Associations (COPAMA).
The COPAMA figures, a collaborative market research effort of the world's 13 largest packaging machinery manufacturing associations, reports shipments of packaging machinery reached $21.206 billion in 2002, a $1.343 billion increase over 2001. The 6 per cent rise in packaging machinery purchasing represent the tabulation of 11 of the 13 COPAMA member companies, and includes the first ever report of Russia's figures.
According to the report, US packaging equipment continues to outsell packaging machinery from other markets. With shipments last year of $5.851 billion, US manufacturers enjoyed a 28 per cent market share.
German manufacturers ranked second with $3.762 billion sold, moving up one rank from the 2001 announcement with an 18 per cent market share. Japan moved down one spot, with $3.168 billion in sales and a 15 per cent market share. China came in in fifth spot with packaging sales of $2.341 billion, representing an 11 per cent market share.
As recorded by COPAMA, the 2001 vs. 2002 shipments and shares of confederation members were as follows: "The 2002 COPAMA report indicates the global packaging machinery market is back on track following a 1 per cent drop in sales in 2001," commented Charles D. Yuska, president of PMMI. "This is promising news for all machinery manufacturers and a hopeful sign that we are in the midst of a full economic recovery in the global manufacturing sector."
The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) is a trade association whose more than 500 members manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery in the United States and Canada.
PMMI is also the sponsor and producer of the Pack Expo shows. Pack Expo Las Vegas 2003 takes place October 13-15, 2003 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, US.