The demand for flat glass and beverage glass containers in the US is expected to increase during the next few years, according to a forecast by the Freedonia Group, Inc.
Demand for flat glass is expe…
The demand for flat glass and beverage glass containers in the US is expected to increase during the next few years, according to a forecast by the Freedonia Group, Inc. Demand for flat glass is expected to increase by up to 2.5% per year by 2008, the report said. Of the three sectors of the flat glass market (construction, motor vehicle, speciality), the strongest gains are expected for the construction market, with demand projected to reach 300 million square metres in 2003. Tempered and insulating glass are the largest product segments, together accounting for 60% of total flat glass demand in 1998. Demand for the total beverage containers is projected to advance at an annual pace of 2.2% through the year 2003 to 217 billion units. Prospects will improve for glass bottles, as their replacement in the soft drink and milk markets has been largely completed and the loss of share to plastics is slowing in applications such as bottled water and distilled spirits. Prospects will be best in relatively novel niche markets like ready-to-drink coffees and nutraceutical beverages.