According to industry association European Tube Manufacturers Association (Etma, Düsseldorf, Germany; www.etma-online.org), deliveries by European tube manufacturers in 2023 remained at the year-earlier level with a total volume of just under 11.9 bn units.

It said supply to the dental care sector increased by a good 2%, while demand from both the pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets fell 2%. Deliveries to the food industry were unchanged at the previous year’s result.

Related: Deliveries of flexible tubes edge higher in H1 2023

“Despite the multiple crises we are currently seeing around the world, the tubes market remained stable in 2023. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, stubborn inflation, and the associated political and economic uncertainties are weighing on consumer sentiment and buying behaviour. The overall result achieved by the European tubes industry in 2023 is therefore quite satisfactory,” says association president Mark Aegler.

Etma said new European packaging regulation is expected to be passed before the next European Parliament elections, with requirements that would be stricter for the sustainability of packaging. In particular, the recyclability and design for recycling of packaging are to be improved. 

Commenting on the outlook for 2024, the association said that despite the difficult political and economic conditions, the European tubes industry is cautiously optimistic about the first half of 2024. “The order backlog in our industry remains satisfactory overall,” Aegler said.