Update 2019: Top Five Aluminium Cans Manufacturers around the Globe

Aluminium cans are the most recyclable packaging units till the end of their lifecycle without quality degradation, and that makes them the preferred packaging material for brands across industries, ahead of other materials like plastic and paper. Recently, the Can Manufacturers Institute pointed out the average aluminium cans in the US have a recycled content of 73%, whereas that in the plastic PET bottles is less than 10 per cent. Besides, other qualities such as lightweight, strong, affordable, easy to handle, and highly resistant to corrosion have contributed to the journey of aluminium cans turning into the most widely used containers.

In 2018, the demand for aluminium cans was estimated to grow between 3.7 – 4 per cent, and that in the next five years by some 4 – 3.6 per cent CAGR. Along with the demand, the production volume is likely to grow as well from 293 billion can in 2017 to 342 billion. The value of the market, as of 2018, was US$52.21 billion, and by 2024 to reach US$60.63 billion, registering a CAGR of 2.23% over the forecast period.

Now, let’s talk about the top five aluminium cans manufacturers that have shaped up the aluminium packaging growth story globally.

The names listed here are based on the available global production and net sales statistics. It is dynamic and is subject to change under various macro-economic conditions of the global industry.

#1 Ball Corporation

The United States-headquartered Ball Corporation has emerged as the world’s leading name in the aluminium beverage can manufacturing industry worldwide, after acquiring Rexam Plc in a US$6.1 billion cash-equity (+ $2.4 billion of debt) deal in June 2016. In 2017, it produced more than 100 billion cans and reported net sales of US$10,983 million and net earnings attributable to the corporation US$399 million. In 2018, the company’s total net sales increased to US$11,635 million and net earnings to US$454 million.  As of Q3 2019, Ball Corporation’s net sales came in at US$8,755 million, compared with US$8,832 million during the same period last year. The company’s global beverage volumes increased by 4 per cent in the third quarter and 6 per cent in the first nine months of 2019.

To expand the can production, Ball Corporation is reportedly constructing a new beverage can manufacturing facility in Glendale, Arizona, which is likely to come on line in early 2021. In September this year, it has also been included on the 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World and North America, marking the seventh consecutive year of being featured on the indices. This acknowledges the company’s commitment to sustainability and its leadership in delivering sustainable aluminium beverage packaging solutions to its customers around the globe.

#2 Amcor Limited

Australia-based global packaging company Amcor Limited is topping the list of global aluminium cans manufacturers over the years now. With specialisation in the development and production of rigid and flexible packaging products for various industries, from food to personal care, the company boasts US$13 billion sales and US$930 crores revenue. It has 250 sites across forty countries and produces a diverse range of can sizes.

Currently, the development of recyclable and reusable packaging by 2025 is the main goal of the company. At the beginning of 2019, it joined the list of elite consumer retail brands like Coca Cola, Loreal, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Walmart, who have pledged to use environmentally friendly materials in their product packaging. Recently, Amcor also achieved ASI Performance Standard – Material Stewardship Certifications for its two facilities in France and one in Germany – that produce flexible packaging.

#3 Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings is also an American beverage and food cans manufacture company that takes pride in introducing unique packaging and manufacturing solutions. It produces a wide array of can shapes and sizes including round cans, bowl cans, and shaped cans, with a relentless focus on safety, innovation, and efficiency - not only in production processes but also in the use of resources.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Crown Holdings' more than 90 per cent stock is held by institutional and mutual fund investors.  It has 146 facilities in 36 countries around the global and has net sales $8.3 billion, as of 2016.

By the end of 2020, the company aims to cut energy consumption by 5 per cent per billion standard units of production and also to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per billion standard units of production, as part of its commitment towards environmentally friendly production process.

#4 Ardagh

With production facilities in 12 countries and employing approximately more than 16,000 staff, Ardagh​​ Group is a world-known supplier of value-added, infinitely recyclable, metal and glass packaging solutions for some of the globally leading brands. It has 56 production facilities and global sales of $6.7 billion.

Since innovation is at the heart of Ardagh, it always strives to implement unique processes right on the development and design to raw material reduction and energy efficiency. Its interactive printing technology in aluminium bottles and cans which embeds a watermark code in print ready artwork promises to serve as a great marketing solution and anti-counterfeiting technique for brands. Recently, Ardagh won ‘Best Can/ Alubottle’ at the 2019 World Beverage Innovation Awards, which represents the company’s constant effort to innovation in response to growing markets and its experience in finding technological solutions to meet customer needs.

In Q3 2019 ended on September 30, the company reported revenue of $2,377 million, down 1 per cent YoY, but adjusted EBITDA grew 6% YoY at actual exchange rates to $424 million. Adjusted earnings per share also increased during the quarter by 15 per cent to $0.60.

#5 Showa Denko

Showa Aluminium Can Corporation (SAC), a consolidated subsidiary of Showa Denko Group, became the first company to manufacture aluminum beverage cans in Japan in 1971. Since then the Aluminum Can Division has been supplying high-quality aluminum cans for beverages through integrated production, including the molding of cans and lids and the printing of their labels.

The Showa Denko Group positions its aluminum can business as a growth-accelerating business in its ongoing medium-term business plan “Project 2020+,” and has been promoting business expansion strategy targeted at Southeast Asia.

The list does not end here. There are other can makers too who cater to the global demand of aluminium cans.

There are Arconic, Novelis, Constellium – the big names in the industry who have well-structured downstream divisions who make aluminium can sheets, and then there are pure packaging industry players such as the US-based Silgan Containers LLC, Reynolds Group Holdings Limited, India’s Al-Can Exports, and China-based CPMC Holdings Limited who are also the major producers of aluminium cans .