The British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association (BAMA) has reported 10 years of long-term resilience in UK metal aerosol can sales, with data from global market research firm Euromonitor showing sustained performance across personal care, household and food categories between 2016 and 2025.
Total unit sales stood at approximately 529 million in 2025, down from around 567 million in 2016. BAMA frames this headline decline as needing to be read alongside significant growth in several key categories, rather than as a uniform sector contraction.
"Overall, we see a resilient performance in UK aerosol sales," said BAMA Chief Executive Patrick Heskins. "As is to be expected, there is a dip during and after the pandemic, but since 2021, there is a positive growth pattern emerging, most notably in insecticides, skin and sun care applications, and edible oil sales."
Personal care remains the dominant aerosol sector by volume, even as overall unit numbers within the category have declined over the decade. The data shows considerable growth in specific sub-categories: bath and shower aerosol sales rose, skin care increased, and sun care aerosol sales almost doubled over the ten-year period.
This growth contrasts with declines in hair care and depilatories, and an 8 per cent fall in deodorant sprays—historically one of the category's highest-volume applications. Despite these declines, personal care remains far and away the leading aerosol sector overall.
Within household aerosols, insecticides and surface care applications posted the sector's standout performance, both rising by more than 13 per cent over the decade. Air care sales showed a more modest but notable increase, holding growth despite competition from newer home fragrance formats and delivery methods.
The most significant decline within household aerosols came from aerosol polish sprays, which fell by more than 35 per cent over the period—the steepest drop recorded across any category in the report.
Edible oil aerosol sprays recorded a 19 per cent rise in sales between 2016 and 2025, one of the report's most notable growth figures. BAMA suggests this may reflect a longer-term consumer shift away from traditional food oil dispensing methods toward spray-format convenience in home cooking.
Heskins commented on the broader significance of the findings: "The Euromonitor sales data supports a clearer understanding of the categories that are gaining momentum, and also where change is developing in the UK. Over the last decade, consumers have been driven by a diversity of trends, varying market conditions, social influences and changing expectations across all sectors. We are delighted to see that despite these shifts, the aerosol package has maintained its staying power."
Additional qualitative insights from Euromonitor point to continued innovation within sun care, skin care and men's grooming categories, alongside a growing industry focus on sustainability and environmentally responsible packaging solutions. The data also identifies opportunities for premiumisation within personal care aerosols.
On the consumer and retail side, the research highlights the increasing importance of omnichannel retail and e-commerce channels in reaching aerosol customers, alongside the growing influence of convenience, performance and value considerations on product development decisions across the sector.
