BAMA releases annual aerosol filling figures

The UK aerosol filling figures have remained robust, figures released by the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) show.

Following two years of strong year on year increases, the sector has stabilised with overall growth of just 0.1 per cent. In 2013, 1466.5 million cans were filled in total within the UK compared with 1,464.7 million units the previous year.

The trend towards use of aluminium has continued with now a virtual 50:50 split between aluminium and tin-plate. In 2012, 740 million cans used tinplate and 707 million used aluminium; the latest (2013) data indicates that 729 million cans were tinplate with aluminium following closely at 727 million, a significant closing of the gap between the two materials.

Significant areas of growth were air fresheners, already an important category, some personal care segments, hard surface household cleaners and industrial aerosols.

Air fresheners increased by 9.8 per cent y.o.y. with nearly 189 million aerosols filled in the UK. Hard surface cleaners, increased by 22.5 per cent with just over 16 million cans whilst oven cleaners, a relatively small category, rose by 20.3 per cent to 1.1 million cans.

Waxes and polishes, however, declined by -12.5 per cent to just over 25 million units reflecting the gradual decline in fillings for the segment since 2011.

Shoe and leather treatments also showed a modest 2.1 per cent increase, to 1.62 million

Whilst overall, personal care reduced very slightly y.o.y. by just under 1-per cent, the data shows a rise in antiperspirants of 5.8 per cent with 416.2 million aerosols and a modest increase of just under 3 per cent (2.7 per cent) for shaving soaps, lathers and shaving creams.

The other significant area of personal care sector growth was suntan and bronzing products with 7.3 per cent growth bringing fillings in this category to 2.2 million. Whilst a relatively small sector, suntan and bronzing is an emerging category which was first recognized by BAMA in 2007 when the figure stood at just 0.9 million. The category broke the 2 million unit barrier in 2012, having stood at 1.7 million in 2010 and 2011.

Deodorants and body sprays fell by -8.4 per cent to just under 289 million cans. Hair products also declined slightly – by -1.7 per cent with 89.2 million aerosols filled possibly reflecting a plateauing of dry shampoo filling.

Another category of strong growth was automotive which increased from 32.4 million in 2012 to 34.6 million units filled in 2013, an increase of 6.8 per cent. This sector is subject to swings, with 2006 seeing the highest recorded figures in the past decade at 47.7 million units, dropping to just 28.4 million in 2007 and rising to the second high of the past ten years in 2011 (42.4 million units).

Industrial aerosols are another success in the y.o.y. comparison data. The sector had a 70.2 per cent increase in 2013 with 34.4 million industrial aerosol cans filled. This is a startling contrast with just two years ago when, in 2011, just 13.5 million cans were filled for the industrial sector. The 2013 figures make this the largest number of industrial aerosols filled in the United Kingdom in over a decade.

Dr John Morris, Chief Executive of BAMA, said: “It is gratifying that for the third successive year the UK aerosol sector remains in excellent shape. In 2011 we saw a 9 per cent y.o.y. increase; in 2012 a 5 per cent increase; and last year held steady, with a modest overall gain. This reflects the popularity amongst brand owners, retailers and consumers for what is a very efficient, sustainable and effective form of packaging. The aerosol sector is an exemplar of British manufacturing and export success.

“In 2012 European aerosol fillings stood at 5,428 million units with the UK representing 27 per cent of this number. Globally, the UK fills about 1 in 10 of the world’s aerosols rising to 1 in 5 of all aerosols destined for the personal care sector. BAMA has estimated that around 65 per cent of all aerosols filled in the UK are exported, a significant contributor to the UK’s balance of payments. The UK is the third largest filler in the world after the USA and China”.

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