This article casts its eye over the EU glass industry's performance over the past 12 months, & its prospects for the future. Glass production in the EU reached 34.8M/t last year, a growth rate of only 0.7%. Competition from outside Europe, particularly Asia, is expected to continue. Growth in the glass industry in most Western European countries has increased slightly, but some regions, especially Eastern Europe, Russia, some South American countries, the Far & Middle East, have experienced rising demand for glass products. Not all reports paint a gloomy picture, for example, O-I Europe has found the European glass industry healthy, despite a highly competitive packaging market. The Standing Committee of the EU Glass Industries (CPIV) has also predicted slight growth in Europe for glass over the next few years, particularly in the new Member States.
