The British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) has reported UK aerosol industry filling figures for 2012 showing a year-on-year increase of 5%.
The positive figure – up from 1394.4 million units filled in 2011 to 1464.7 million units in 2012 – builds on a figure of 9% growth for the comparable period in 2011.
“During a difficult time for UK business it is gratifying to yet again see strong growth for the aerosol fillings sector,” says Dr John Morris. “Our resilience as an industry is testament to the popularity of this product format.”
The development of overseas export markets has contributed to a strong contribution in the personal care sector: the largest single sector, anti-perspirants, deodorants & body sprays, showed strong growth, up 9.5% from 647.6 million units to 708.9 million units in 2012.
Also within the personal products category, perfumes and colognes showed high growth of 73.7%, up from 10 to 17.4 million units year-on-year.
Hair products, including mousses and hair-sprays, showed a “modest” growth of 1.1% bringing the number filled in 2012 to 90.8 million units (up from 89.8 million), and continuing a trend from the mid-2000s.
In the household sector, the big areas of growth in percentage terms, according to BAMA, were oven cleaners, starches and hard surface cleaners.
Oven cleaner fillings grew by 149.8% from 0.4 million to 0.9 million units; aerosol starches by 16.3% from 4.7 million to 5.5 million units; and hard surface cleaners by 53.3%, from 8.5 million to 13.1 million units in 2012.
In other segments, vet/pet products showed a growth of 7.1% from 2.6 million to 2.8 million units, while all other medical products were up by 8%. Industrial aerosols grew significantly by 49.2%, up from 13.5 million to 20.2 million units.
Paints & lacquers were also buoyant with a rise of 7.5% from 14 million to just over 15 million units, “probably driven by strong growth in the DIY market”.
The miscellaneous category, which includes foodstuffs and novelties, nearly tripled, growing by 174.9%, up to 33.8 million units from 12.3 million in 2011.
According to BAMA, the UK aerosol sector has seen an overall growth of 11.5% between 2006 and 2011, which “dramatically contrasts” with overall UK manufacturing figures that show a “downturn of around 10%” in that period.
“We witnessed 9% growth in 2011, and to enjoy 5% growth last year is very pleasing for all those working in the sector,” says Dr Morris.
