The Can Makers, the body representing UK manufacturers of beverage cans, reports that a total of 5,147 million CSD cans were shipped in 2012, although total UK empty can shipments for 2012 showed a slight decrease at 9,382 million cans, down 0.7% year on year.
Against the backdrop of generally unsettled economic conditions, the organisation describes the figures as: “A notable achievement given the Met Office reported 2012 was the wettest summer in 100 years.”
The cancellation of many outdoor summer events across the UK due to prolonged wet weather was reflected in the figures for the take-home beer market, with shipments of beer and cider cans down 2.2% to 4,235 million.
Geoff Courtney, chairman of The Can Makers, said: “The can industry is robust and has stood up well to the challenges presented by historic summer weather conditions and a double dip recession.
“Both CSD and beer and cider markets are in good shape and have out-performed most other FMCG products in 2012.”
According to market researcher Nielsen, cans are still the favoured pack choice for CSDs with over 57% of the total market, and CSDs in cans are said to be “growing faster than the category as a whole”.
