Ball Corporation sees growth in its Indian aluminium packaging business on higher demand from new segments

Ball Corporation, a leading provider of innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging for beverage, personal care and other products, expects a significant growth in its aluminium packaging business in India as new segments such as sparkling water, wine and hard spirits are switching to aluminium cans for due to its sustainable nature.

“The aluminium packaging business, which is under-penetrated in India, is poised for a significant growth with new segments looking for cans for packaging due to its sustainable nature and circularity,” Amit Lahoti, VP and GM, Ball Beverage Packaging, India and South-East Asia, told BusinessLine.

He explained that some of the untried areas of packaging like wine, hard liquor and sparkling water are under consideration. Regulatory bodies FSSAI and BIS aim to add some other drinks that can be packaged in aluminium cans.

 “We have made significant investments in the country by setting up two beverage packaging manufacturing plants at Taloja, near Mumbai, which was set up in 2006, and the beverage can manufacturing plant in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, set up in 2016. Additionally, the company has an aerosol can plant in Sanand in Gujarat. There is potential to expand capacity over the next two years,” Lahoti said

Andhra Pradesh’s plant manufactures aluminium cans for the alcoholic segment and beverage customers--United Breweries, Diageo AB InBev, Pepsico and Bisleri.

 “Ball is investing in the future of aluminium because we recognise the powerful impact that choosing infinitely recyclable beverage packaging can have on communities and the planet. We are actively tapping the newer categories in India covering a much wider range of beverages and drinks, sparkling water among others. We are also looking at the regulatory developments closely and hope to see a more favourable environment for use of cans. This augurs well for a country which is looking to bring down the use of plastics,” he explained.