The packaging industry - Data 2013

After the contractions recorded in 2012 in production (-5.1%), domestic demand (-4.6%) and foreign trade (exports -5%, imports stable at low levels) 2013 shows a downtrend, even though featuring a degrowth in progressive abatement.

The domestic demand for packaging at the end of 2013 is estimated to show an overall decrease of around 3%. This assumption has been made considering the growthrated of domestic consumption in the manufacturing industry, taking into account the significant correlation between the growth of manufacturing activity with domestic packaging consumption rates.

The data on foreign trade in 2013 was drawn up taking into account the growth trend expressed by the different packaging families in the first eight months of the year; and the results of the analysis show a 4% decline of exports and 5% decline of imports.

Based on the growth of Italian domestic demand and Italian export trends, production is estimated to be down 3%.

The 2013 balance of the packaging industry therefore remains negative, but the regression is slowing down and this leads to the belief that 2014 could usher in the beginning of a slow but steady recovery. It is expected that in 2014 the manufacturing industry will mark a recovery of 1.2% in domestic consumption, an increase in exports of 3.2%, a 3.4% increase in imports, with production up by 1.7%.

A similar trend could also affect the packaging industry.   
             
Plinio Iascone
Istituto Italiano Imballaggio