ARLINGTON, Va. — Packaging machinery shipments in the U.S. for 2006 rose 6 percent over 2005 totals to $6.11 billion, according to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI).
Of 17 machinery categories tracked by PMMI, 16 experienced double-digit growth, with Wrapping and Capping (+18.6 percent), and Lidding and Sealing (+11.2 percent) as standouts. Converting machinery was the only segment with a decline (-0.6).
At $1.012 billion, exports of packaging machinery continued a three-year trend of surpassing the $1 billion mark.
Domestic demand increased 8.4 percent to $6.637 billion in sales. Domestic shipments rose 7.2 percent to $5.098 billion as imports increased 12.6 percent with $1.539 billion in sales.
“U.S. domestic demand for packaging machinery has been particularly strong for the past three years with 9.8 percent growth in 2004, 7.6 percent growth in 2005 and last year’s 8.4 percent growth,” said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of PMMI. “While things have slowed in 2007, capacity levels remain high and expect consumer goods companies to continue their past buying patterns at slightly moderate terms.”
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