Packaging Valley at Fachpack 2024
"Fachpack is one of the most important trade fairs for our members in packaging technology. Together with the exhibiting member companies, the Packaging Valley co-operative stand brings together a broad range of its’ products and services, and is worth the visit to Nuremburg in and of itself.”, emphasizes Packaging Valley Managing Director Martin Buchwitz.
European flexible packaging prices rise in Q2 2024
The price of flexible packaging materials across Europe continued the slow increase seen in Q1 as demand continued to rise for most substrates in the three months to end June 2024. Prices were also affected by supply side cost rises for both raw materials and logistics services. Leading the rises was 60gsm one-sided coated paper, which saw an increase of almost 10% in Q2 compared with the previous 3 months and some 40% higher than the benchmark 100% of Q1 2020.
LDPE added 6% but is still 56% higher than Q4 2020 level while HDPE added 5%, climbing to 42% above the benchmark. Seven-micron aluminium foil also climbed 5%, followed by rises of 3% for 15-micron BOPA film and 2% for 12-micron PET film. Only 20-micron BOPP film bucked the upward trend, remaining stable. LDPE, HDPE and 12-micron PET are now back to the levels seen at the start of 2023, while all other materials remain well below the prices seen at that time. However the price of 20 micron BOPP has remained relatively steady during the last 12 months.
Sappi Europe’s strategic enhancements in the flexible packaging papers sector
Herma: Label applicator world premiere at Fachpack
Fachpack: Hall 3C, Stand 322
Van Genechten Packaging acquires Poland-based DOT2DOT SA
The company Van Genechten Packaging, Turnhout, has acquired 100% of the shares of the Polish DOT2DOT Group, which operates from two locations in Poland.
The group of companies, with a combined annual turnover exceeding € 50 m, specialises in premium packaging for the beauty, confectionery, personal & health care, and premium spirits sectors. DOT2DOT SA, in its present form with their current locations in Gdansk and Warsaw, is the result of the 2017 merger of three Polish companies in the packaging industry: Graf-Pozu; Druk Markuszewscy; and Drukpol. DOT2DOT was owned by a subsidiary of a fund managed by Abris Capital Partners.
With DOT2DOT’s solid customer base, advanced packaging design, and robust production capabilities, they are the perfect partner to join our VGP growth strategy. The transaction is subject to the usual anti-trust approvals. “Apart from sharing the same DNA, we are leveraging our capabilities in several strategic market segments. With this acquisition, we are not only strengthening our European market position in premium packaging but also significantly extending our multinational customer base. We look forward to a successful collaboration and the exciting opportunities ahead,” explains Frank Ohle, CEO of Van Genechten Packaging Group.
FPE publishes guidance for life cycle assessment of flexible packaging
A guidance to support the environmental assessment of flexible packaging solutions from a life cycle thinking perspective has just been provided by the European flexible packaging industry.
You can find more images for use in the context of this press release in the gallery on our website: https://www.flexpack-europe.org/galleries
Flexible packaging manufacturers are optimistic for the future
Barry Callebaut: stability in an unprecedented environment
The Barry Callebaut Group reported sales volume of 1.710 m tonnes, up 0.4%, during the first nine months of the fiscal year 2023/24 (ended on May 31, 2024). Sales volume was down - 0.3% in the third quarter, in the context of a challenging market environment.
According to the company, sales revenue amounted to CHF 7.320 bn, an increase of 23.1% in local currencies (+ 16.3% in CHF), ahead of volume growth. Growth was driven by the significant increase in cocoa prices, which Barry Callebaut manages through its cost-plus pricing model for the majority of its business.
Global Chocolate saw 0.8% volume growth in an overall declining chocolate confectionery market according to NielsenIQ (- 1.5%; source: NielsenIQ volume growth excluding e-commerce - 26 countries, September 2023 - April/May 2024; data subject to adjustment to match Barry Callebaut's reporting period; NielsenIQ data only partially reflects the out-of-home and impulse consumption.
Volume development for Food Manufacturers (- 1.1%) remained suppressed as large global customers saw softer demand, partly offset by resilient performance for Private Label customers. Gourmet & Specialties delivered 10.9% volume growth with strong demand across most geographies and market segments. In the third quarter, the Gourmet business saw a positive impact from the phasing of customer purchases in a rising cocoa price environment.
Most Global Chocolate regions saw positive volume growth. Western Europe (+ 2.1%) was the largest contributor, with positive growth for Food Manufacturers and strong momentum for Gourmet. Volume growth in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa turned positive (+ 2.7%), with close to double-digit growth in the third quarter supported by improved performance in Indonesia. Latin America saw solid volume growth of 6.2% in the first nine months, led by Gourmet in Brazil. North America reported a sales volume decrease of - 1.4%, as large Food Manufacturers saw lower demand, while regional accounts and Gourmet continued to see resilient growth.
Volumes declined slightly in Central and Eastern Europe (- 0.2%), with a slowdown in the third quarter impacted by lower volumes for certain large global and regional customers. Global Cocoa saw a - 1.6% decrease in sales volume, in the context of a significant increase in cocoa prices. The supply constrained environment impacted sales for cocoa butter and cocoa liquor, particularly in the third quarter. Demand for cocoa powder remained robust, with particular strength in India and Indonesia. Overall, global customers saw volume pressure, partly offset by solid momentum for regional customers.