Europe’s tube manufacturing industry faced a softer market in the first half of 2025, according to new figures from the European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma). Global deliveries of aluminium, laminate and plastic tubes fell by 3.9% year-on-year to around 5.8 billion units.
The performance varied significantly across tube types.
Aluminium tubes recorded deliveries of nearly 2 billion units, marking a 4.8% decline compared to the same period in 2024. While demand from the food sector remained stable and cosmetics saw a slight uptick, a sharp fall in pharmaceutical deliveries — the industry’s largest application area — was the main factor behind the overall drop.
Laminate tubes, by contrast, saw stronger results. Deliveries rose by 3.6% to almost 2.36 billion units, with growth driven particularly by the toothpaste and pharmaceutical segments.
Plastic tubes experienced the steepest fall, with deliveries down 12.8% to around 1.47 billion units. This decline was largely attributed to weaker demand from the cosmetics sector, especially for smaller-diameter formats.
Recycled materials and trade pressures remain key challenges
The industry continues to prioritise the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, but limited availability — particularly in plastics — is slowing progress towards higher recycled content in packaging.
At the same time, global trade conditions have become increasingly unpredictable. The United States’ newly announced 50% tariff on aluminium tubes, set to take effect in August 2025, is adding fresh uncertainty and further strain to international supply chains.
Resilience amid market headwinds
Commenting on the results, etma President Zoran Joksic said: “The first half of 2025 has shown once again that our industry is both challenged and resilient. Despite weaker demand in some key markets, particularly pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, we continue to see growth impulses in other sectors and tube types. The resilience of our members and their continued investments in innovation and sustainability make us cautiously optimistic for the remainder of 2025.”
Europe’s tube manufacturers report weaker market in first half of 2025
