This Report includes

Executive Summary
Infographic Overview
Interactive Databook
Report PDF
PowerPoint Presentation
Previous Editions

Make It Custom Enquiry Before Buying

The global metal packaging market is a resilient, innovation-driven ecosystem that serves food and beverages, personal care, household products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and pet care. Metal formats such as aluminum cans, steel/tinplate cans, aerosol containers, closures, tubes, and drums remain central to high-speed filling, robust product protection, and extended shelf life. In 2025, the market size is estimated at approx USD 125 billion, with steady growth around the mid–single digits expected over the next 5 to 7 years. Demand is underpinned by consumer preferences for recyclable materials, brand owners’ sustainability goals, tightening regulations on single-use plastics, and ongoing advances in lightweighting, barrier coatings, and digital decoration. For Global Infi Research’s clients, metal packaging represents a dependable platform for circularity, product safety, and shelf impact—especially as sustainability reporting, EPR (extended producer responsibility), and recycled content targets become mainstream across regions.

Metal packaging’s core value proposition rests on its closed-loop recyclability, strong oxygen and light barriers, tamper resistance, and compatibility with high-speed, high-volume production lines. With around 70%+ average recycling rates in several developed markets (varying by region and format), aluminum and steel are widely regarded as circular materials. Further, innovations in BPA-NI (non-intent) coatings, easy-open ends, resealable closures, and smart printing are expanding brand possibilities for both mass and premium segments. The category’s versatility—from 150 ml beverage cans to 200-liter drums—positions metal packaging as a cross-industry workhorse.

Metal Packaging Market Drivers and Emerging Trends

Sustainability and circular economy
- Rising corporate recycled content commitments and national packaging waste directives are pushing brand owners toward endlessly recyclable substrates. Aluminum, in particular, benefits from closed-loop collection, while steel cans capitalize on strong magnet-based sorting rates.
Premiumization and brand differentiation
- Around the world, brands are using specialty inks, texturing, embossing, and tactile varnishes to enhance shelf presence. Digital printing enables short runs, seasonal SKUs, and personalization without high plate costs.
Health, safety, and barrier performance
- Demand for reliable oxygen/light barriers and tamper evidence favors metal formats for sensitive products (e.g., beverages, infant formula, nutraceuticals, aerosols, paints). Coating innovation (BPA-NI, oleoresins, epoxy alternatives) continues to improve safety profiles.
Convenience and new consumption occasions
- Ready-to-drink beverages (energy drinks, cold coffee, functional beverages), craft beer, wine-in-can, and mixology RTDs are expanding the addressable market. Easy-open ends, resealability, and ergonomic designs improve user experience.
Lightweighting and material efficiency
- Continuous down-gauging in aluminum and steel lowers material use per unit, optimizes cost, and improves sustainability metrics without compromising integrity.
Supply chain reconfiguration
- To de-risk disruptions, converters and brand owners are localizing canmaking capacity and diversifying raw material sources. This trend favors regional investments in can lines and coil coating.
Smart packaging and traceability
- QR-enabled storytelling, anti-counterfeit features, and variable data printing support e-commerce, DTC launches, and compliance with track-and-trace expectations.

Metal Packaging Market Segmentation

By Material
- Aluminum: Dominant in beverage cans and growing in RTDs, energy drinks, and wine-in-can. Strong circularity profile and high consumer acceptance.
- Steel/Tinplate: Widely used for food cans, aerosols, paint cans, industrial pails, and closures. Robust performance for retort applications and pantry staples.
By Product Type
- Beverage Cans: Standard, sleek, and slim formats; approx the largest share by volume. Growth led by energy drinks, flavored seltzers, functional beverages, and craft beer.
- Food Cans: Staple for vegetables, soups, pet food, fish/meat; ongoing innovation in easy-open ends and BPA-NI coatings.
- Aerosol Cans: Personal care (deodorants, hair sprays), household (cleaners, air fresheners), and industrial (lubricants, paints).
- Closures & Ends: Easy-open ends, crowns, lug caps, and specialty closures for beverages, sauces, baby food, and spreads.
- Tubes: Aluminum collapsible tubes for pharma creams, cosmetics, and specialty adhesives.
- Industrial Drums & Pails: Steel drums (approx 200 L) for chemicals, coatings, and lubricants; focus on safety and UN compliance.
By End Use
- Food & Beverages: Canned foods, RTDs, carbonated soft drinks, beer, coffee, teas, juices, and sports/energy drinks.
- Personal Care & Cosmetics: Aerosols, tubes, and specialty closures for premium positioning.
- Home Care & Industrial: Paints, coatings, lubricants, solvents, cleaners.
- Healthcare & Pharma: Ointment tubes, nutraceutical cans, diagnostic reagents.
- Pet Care: Wet food cans and closures, benefiting from premiumization and convenience.
By Region
- North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, with Asia Pacific showing robust capacity additions and consumption growth.

Key Players in the Metal Packaging Market

The competitive landscape features global leaders, regional champions, and specialized converters. Companies below are widely recognized for scale, innovation pipelines, and geographic reach across canmaking, coil coating, ends/closures, and specialty formats.

Canmakers and Integrated Packaging Leaders
- Ball Corporation
- Crown Holdings
- Ardagh Group
- Canpack
- Toyo Seikan Group
- CPMC Holdings
- Orora
- Envases Group
- Massilly Group
Metal Producers and Coil Coaters (input materials, sheet/coil)
- Novelis (aluminum)
- Constellium (aluminum)
- Hydro (aluminum)
- UACJ (aluminum)
- Nippon Steel (steel/tinplate)
- Tata Steel (steel/tinplate)
- thyssenkrupp Rasselstein (tinplate)
- JFE Steel (steel/tinplate)
- Baosteel (steel/tinplate)
Closures, Ends, and Specialty Components
- Silgan Holdings (closures, metal packaging)
- Crown Food Europe (ends/EOEs)
- Tecnocap (metal closures)
- Gualapack (select closures in multi-material portfolios)
- Berlin Packaging (hybrid offerings and sourcing)
Aerosols and Tubes Specialists
- Trivium Packaging (metal packaging and aerosols)
- Colep Packaging
- Tubex
- Alltub

Partnerships between canmakers and beverage brands, as well as between metal producers and converters, are common to support localized supply, recycled content goals, and rapid SKU innovation. M&A activity typically targets regional capacity, specialized formats, and downstream decoration capabilities.

Research & Development Hotspots of Metal Packaging

Coating Chemistry and BPA-NI Systems
- Accelerated development of alternative resin chemistries that meet global migration standards while ensuring flavor neutrality and retort resistance. Focus on epoxy alternatives, polyester/oleoresin hybrids, and bio-based options.
Advanced Alloying and Down-Gauging
- New aluminum and steel grades designed for higher strength-to-weight ratios, enabling approx 3% to 8% material reduction per generation without compromising buckle resistance or dome strength.
High-Speed, Low-Waste Manufacturing
- Investments in digital quality inspection, inline vision systems, and AI-driven predictive maintenance to lower spoilage rates and improve line efficiency at speeds of around 1,500+ cans per minute in leading facilities.
Digital and Variable Data Printing
- Short-run, mass-customized campaigns with minimal setup, supporting regional launches and DTC activations. R&D aims at improving ink adhesion, curing times, and recyclability compatibility.
Recycled Content Optimization
- Metallurgical R&D to increase post-consumer recycled (PCR) content while maintaining mechanical properties. Closed-loop programs with beverage brands to secure high-quality scrap streams.
Smart Features and Traceability
- Integration of QR/NFC markers for provenance, consumer engagement, and anti-counterfeiting—especially relevant in premium beverages, nutraceutics, and cross-border e-commerce.
E-Commerce Durability
- Structural enhancements for drop, compression, and leak tests tailored to parcel networks; secondary packaging optimization and dunnage reduction.

Regional Market Dynamics of Metal Packaging

North America
- Stable demand with strong momentum in RTD cocktails, energy drinks, craft beverages, and pet food. Approx high adoption of aluminum cans for sustainability and SKU innovation. Capacity additions continue to support regionalized supply chains.
Europe
- Highly advanced recycling infrastructure and stringent packaging directives favor metal’s circularity. Growth in non-alcoholic adult beverages, premium canned wine, and specialty foods. Ongoing shifts toward BPA-NI coatings and higher PCR content.
Asia Pacific
- The fastest-growing region by volume, driven by urbanization, rising middle-class consumption, and expanding modern retail. Significant investments in can lines, coil coating, and local sourcing. Strong growth in energy drinks, RTDs, and convenience foods.
Latin America
- Expanding beverage can consumption, supported by sports and energy drink categories and regional brewery investments. Localization strategies help manage currency and logistics volatility.
Middle East & Africa
- Gradual growth with new beverage can capacity and uptick in personal care aerosols. Government initiatives on local manufacturing and waste management are shaping medium-term opportunities.
Cross-Regional Considerations
- Input cost volatility (aluminum, steel, coatings) and energy prices can influence short-term margins. However, multi-year contracts, hedging practices, and lightweighting often mitigate shocks. Regulatory momentum around plastic reduction supports metal substitution in selected applications.

Metal Packaging - Strategic Recommendations for Industry Stakeholders

For Brand Owners and Retailers
- Leverage metal packaging’s sustainability narrative with clear on-pack communication about recyclability and PCR content.
- Use digital printing and short runs to test flavors, regions, and limited editions; integrate QR for loyalty and traceability.
- Co-develop with suppliers on BPA-NI coatings and flavor-stability testing to accelerate approvals and reduce risk.
- Explore format adjacencies—sleek/slim can variants, resealable ends, and specialty closures—to expand consumption occasions.
For Converters and Canmakers
- Invest in high-speed lines, inline inspection, and AI-driven maintenance to improve OEE and reduce scrap.
- Localize production near large fillers; secure coil supplies through multi-year agreements with metal producers.
- Expand capabilities in variable data printing, embossing, and matte/tactile finishes to serve premium SKUs.
- Pursue certification and documentation frameworks that demonstrate recycled content, food safety, and compliance readiness.
For Metal Producers and Coil Coaters
- Accelerate alloy R&D for greater formability and strength at lower gauges; prioritize stable PCR inclusion.
- Collaborate on can/end design optimization to reduce grams-per-unit while maintaining performance.
- Enhance supply chain transparency tools to help customers meet reporting requirements.
For Investors
- Focus on companies with exposure to high-growth RTDs, energy drinks, and premium personal care, alongside strong ESG metrics.
- Evaluate asset footprints for proximity to major filling hubs and resilience to input cost volatility.
- Consider platforms with integrated printing/coating expertise and the ability to run small-batch economics.

Conclusion

The metal packaging market is on a durable growth trajectory, anchored by circularity, product protection, and design versatility. Demand is reinforced by the rise of RTDs and functional beverages, the premiumization of personal care and household products, and stricter sustainability requirements that favor endlessly recyclable substrates. Ongoing R&D in BPA-NI coatings, lightweight alloys, digital decoration, and smart traceability is enhancing performance and brand storytelling, while regional capacity expansions are tightening supply chains and improving speed-to-market.

According to Global Infi Research, the opportunity lies in aligning packaging portfolios with evolving regulations, consumer expectations, and operational efficiency. Strategic partnerships across the value chain—from metal producers to decorators—can unlock advantages in cost, sustainability credentials, and rapid innovation cycles. With approx mid–single-digit growth expected and strong momentum in high-value segments, metal packaging remains a compelling, future-ready choice for brands seeking both environmental credibility and standout shelf presence.

Executive Summary
Research Methodology
- Scope and Definitions
- Data Sources and Validation
Market Overview
- Market Size and Forecast (2021–2030) with base year 2024
- Value Chain Analysis
- Technology Roadmap
Market Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
In-Depth Market Segmentation
- By Material
  - Aluminum
  - Steel/Tinplate
- By Product Type
  - Beverage Cans (standard, sleek, slim)
  - Food Cans (retortable, easy-open ends)
  - Aerosol Cans (personal care, household, industrial)
  - Closures & Ends (EOEs, crowns, lug caps, specialty)
  - Collapsible Tubes (pharma, cosmetics, adhesives)
  - Industrial Drums & Pails (approx 200 L steel drums, UN-rated pails)
- By Manufacturing Process
  - Two-Piece DWI (draw and wall ironed)
  - Three-Piece Welded Cans
  - Impact Extrusion (aerosols, tubes)
  - Coil Coating & Lithography
- By End Use
  - Food & Beverages (CSDs, beer, RTDs, coffee/tea, canned foods, pet food)
  - Personal Care & Cosmetics (deodorants, hair care, skin care tubes)
  - Home Care & Industrial (paints, coatings, lubricants, cleaners)
  - Healthcare & Pharma (ointments, nutraceuticals)
  - Pet Care (wet food cans)
- By Capacity/Format
  - Small Volume (≤250 ml)
  - Standard (250–500 ml)
  - Large/Multipack (>500 ml; 1–5 L)
  - Industrial (approx 20–200 L)
- By Distribution Channel
  - Retail (modern trade, convenience)
  - HoReCa and On-the-Go
  - E-commerce/D2C (ship-ready formats)
- By Region
  - North America
  - Europe
  - Asia-Pacific
  - Middle East & Africa
  - Latin America
Regional Market Dynamics
- North America
- Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- Latin America
Key Players in the Market
- Global Canmakers and Integrated Packaging Leaders
  - Ball Corporation
  - Crown Holdings
  - Ardagh Group
  - Canpack
  - Toyo Seikan Group
  - CPMC Holdings
  - Orora
  - Envases Group
  - Massilly Group
- Metal Producers and Coil Coaters
  - Novelis
  - Constellium
  - Hydro
  - UACJ
  - Nippon Steel
  - Tata Steel
  - thyssenkrupp Rasselstein
  - JFE Steel
  - Baosteel
- Closures, Ends, and Specialty Components
  - Silgan Holdings
  - Tecnocap
  - Crown Food Europe (ends/EOEs)
  - Berlin Packaging (sourcing, hybrid portfolios)
- Aerosols and Tubes Specialists
  - Trivium Packaging
  - Colep Packaging
  - Tubex
  - Alltub
- Emerging/Regional Participants
  - Hindustan Tin Works
  - Tianjin Pacific Can
  - Kingcan
  - Nampak
  - P Wilkinson Containers
- Ecosystem Partners and Enablers
  - Ink/Coating Suppliers (BPA-NI, epoxy alternatives)
  - Printing/Decoration Specialists (digital, variable data)
  - Recycling/Material Recovery Partners (closed-loop PCR programs)
Research & Development Hotspots
Regulatory and Sustainability Framework
Strategic Recommendations
Appendix
- Glossary
- List of Abbreviations
- Contact Information – Global Infi Research

Metal Packaging Market

$2499