Growth was the underlying trend in the UK market for glass packaging between 2001-2004, but a 3% decline was seen during 2005 to £616.8m, according to the latest glass market report from MBD. Strong growth of 7% during 2004 took sales to a 5-year peak of £636.4m and an overall increase of 8% compared with sales in 2001. MBD says the prospects for glass packaging are an 8% growth by 2010. The market will increase at a stronger rate during the first half of the next forecast period. However, the market will continue to suffer from difficult conditions in the alcoholic drinks sector and the pharmaceuticals sector, where competition from plastics is likely to continue. Demand from premium foods will result in 9% growth between 2005-2010 for colourless food and drink containers with a capacity of less than 2.5 litres. Demand for coloured food and drinks containers with a capacity of less than 2.5 litres will rise, despite competition from plastics by markets such as beer. Strong growth of 18% in that sector means that the proportional importance of coloured food and drinks containers ill grow from 36% in 2005 to 40% by 2010.
