Russian Packaging Industry State and Milestones
The anticipated statistical data pertaining to the Russian GDP growth and other macroeconomic indicators characterising the domestic economy growth in 2012 have been published recently. In reliance thereon one may assume that over this year our packaging market has grown by 4-5%, which is also substantiated by a more detailed analysis of the production state of affairs and the use of various types of packaging materials and products. The dynamic growth in food production – one of the major packaging consumers – has become one of the fundamental factors contributing to such growth. According to Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service), their production index in January – August 2012 against the same period of 2011 amounted to 106%, and this rate is likely to remain the same throughout the year.
But this is just the quantitative aspect of the matter. The changes characterising the Russian packaging market structure and its development trends are more interesting and important. To begin with, I would like to note that packaging manufacturers who have managed to streamline their businesses and execute their existing modernisation and technical upgrade plans over the hard recession years are becoming increasingly confident on the packaging market. And whereas streamlining is generally available to virtually all companies not many packaging market players have had the possibilities of heavily investing in the acquisition of new technologies and state-of-the-art equipment. In such circumstances a number of companies have benefited from consolidation of funds and integration of production, which hopefully will allow them to successfully compete with the overseas packaging suppliers within the WTO. Regretfully, one has to acknowledge departure from the market of many small businesses manufacturing packaging materials and items who failed to find answers to the challenges characteristic of the recent years.
However, even such ingredients of success as using high-capacity equipment, cost optimisation, competent marketing and availability of trained specialists have not allowed most packaging industry companies to substantially increase their earning capacity and make adequate profits. The Russian raw material market still cannot fully meet the packagers’ demands for the required materials. Its heavy monopolisation maintains high prices for the staple goods, whereas the current customs/tariffs policy does not help to overcome the raw material problems by means of importing resources. Joining WTO may further aggravate these problems.
This account for one of NCPack (National Packaging Confederation) most important tasks, i.e. development of mutually advantageous relations with manufacturers of cardboard, paper and polymers, for whom packaging companies have become major consumers of produce. Equally important is the improvement of the customs/tariffs policy which is becoming essential to ensure competitive abilities of the domestic producers of packaging materials, goods and equipment under the WTO conditions.
The past year has marked return to the packaging ‘pre-crisis values’. Most of its industrial consumers have sensed that the drive to save at the expense thereof resulting in the loss of quality brings about significant growth of packed product losses. It particularly negatively affected the production, shipment and sales of food. By the way, it seems fit and well-timed to include the Save Food issue in the Upakovka/Upak Italia 2013 business programme that will once again emphasise and show the role of packaging in the production and consumption of food and demonstrate its new capabilities and functions. The latter are increasingly expanding. And the demand for packaging as the year 2012 has shown is progressively shifting towards high-technology, reliable and ecofriendly packaging consistent with the modern marketing requirements.
Subscribe to our news in social networks and newsletter:
Other publications in special projects:
 |
Source: Unipack.Ru
All rubric articles All articlesSearch