Packaging pushes through economic problems...

Bucking sentiments in other plastics-heavy markets like construction and automotive, more than two-thirds of converters of single-use foodservice packaging in North America, and their suppliers, expect sales volumes to be better in 2008 than in 2007. That’s according to the latest Foodservice Packaging Industry Survey from the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI; Falls Church, VA). The survey polls foodservice packaging manufacturers and suppliers in North America and Europe. Nearly 66% of those surveyed also expect profits to improve in 2008, and almost 75% plan to purchase new machinery in 2008, while almost half plan to expand operations in 2008.

In Europe, almost 75% of foodservice packaging processors expect an increase in volumes, with almost all expecting profits to be up. One-third will purchase new equipment, and slightly more plan to expand their operations in 2008.

Among common issues cited by European and North American foodservice-packaging firms were increasing raw-material costs—the top challenge according to North America converters and raw-material suppliers—as well as developing new sustainable-packaging products.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI; Arlington, VA) released its own survey in early March, the 2008 U.S. Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study, which reported that consumer and industrial goods companies plan on spending $6.304 billion for packaging machinery in 2008, a 0.6% increase over 2007. Only two of the eight tracked market segments will show growth, with foods up 2-4% and personal care to expand from 0-2%. The study is based on interviews with 511 representatives of 1564 U.S. plants.—[email protected]