U.S. Continues to Lead Global Packaging Machinery Shipments

The United States packaging machinery manufacturers lead the world in shipments of packaging equipment for the 10th consecutive year according to the Confederation of Packaging Machinery Associations (COPAMA). In 2004, the most recent year for which figures are available, the United States maintained its number one ranking with sales totaling $6.413 billion.

COPAMA, an international group of national packaging machinery associations, releases statistics on total world packaging machinery turnover, as determined by its national packaging machinery associations that contribute statistics to COPAMA. The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) is a member and contributes statistics to COPAMA based on US Census Bureau data, as well as PMMI’s own detailed annual surveys of the U.S. industry. Countries are ranked on the basis of total dollar sales of packaging equipment, parts, and services.

“The United States’ global strength in packaging machinery shipments is attributed to the high reliability, flexibility, and safety of equipment built by U.S. manufacturers, as well as the total cost of operation and reliable service programs that are the hallmarks of the U.S. packaging machinery industry,” said Charles D. Yuska, president of PMMI. “Accounting for 24 percent of the world’s packaging machinery, U.S. manufacturers play a key role in the efficient and cost-effective production, filling, labeling, capping, and protection of virtually all packaged goods industries.

For more information about the COPAMA machinery turnover numbers, visit www.pmmi.org.