France remains one of the world's biggest glassmakers, accounting for around 20% of glass production in the EU & being home to two of the biggest global glass producers, Arc International & Saint-Gobain. An estimated 18,000 people are employed by glassmakers. However, major changes have taken place recently. BSN Glasspack, the French-based business that was Europe's third biggest maker of glass containers, has been acquired by Owens-Illinois. Arc International, the massive manufacturer of glass tableware, is to slim down operations in France & increase production at its sites in China & the UAE in a move to enhance global competitiveness, & Bormioli Rocco, the Italian glassmaker that acquired Saint-Gobain's glass tableware operations in 1997, has since cut back & now makes most of its glassware in Italy. Production figures for various sectors are reported.
