Packaging: The Italian sector in figures

21/02/2024

Feb 21, 2024

The data analysed by the Italian Packaging Institute’s research centre, published in the Packaging in Figures 2023 study (2022 data), describe a stable sector from a production point of view, with a growing turnover and encouraging forecasts in the short-term

After a couple of years of alternating trends, in 2022 the Italian production of packaging shows substantial stability: -0.4% on 2021, equal to over 18 million tonnes. There was growth in double figures, instead, for turnover, which exceeded 40 billion euros, registering an increase of 15.4% against the previous year. The increase in list prices applied to counterbalance the energy increases and the greater costs of raw materials had a significant impact on turnover growth.

Monographic fact sheet of the packaging sector in Italy, from 2020 with hypotheses for 2023.

			var. %		var. %		var. %
	2020	2021	21/20	2022	22/21	Ipotesi 2023	23/22
Balance
(mln euros - estimate)	33,256	35,216	5.90%	40,653	15.40%	41,872	3.00%
Number of employees (estimate)	-	-	-	109,491	-	-	-
Number of companies (estimate)	-	-	-	7,257	-	-	-
Production t/000	17,002	18,154	6.80%	18,089	-0.40%	18,180	0.50%
Export t/000	2,846	3,029	6,40%	2,961	-2.20%	2,813	-5.00%
Import t/000	2,091	2,419	15.70%	2,694	11.40%	2,748	2.00%
Apparent use t/000	16,247	17,543	8.00%	17,822	1.60%	18,114	1.64%

Note: Data may be subject to corrections. Source: Banca dati Istituto Italiano Imballaggio

Falling exports

Exports show a drop of -2.2%, while imports continue their rise, so much so that in 2022 the growth rate was equal to +11.4%. The trade balance remains positive, however, with 267 t/000 more packaging exported, mainly in Europe, compared to imports.

A look at materials

With regards to individual materials, there is a negative trend for paper (-3.4%) and steel (-6.2%) packaging. The significant use of paper packaging impacts on the overall performance of the sector, as cellulose materials represented 31.9% of total packaging produced in 2022. The trend of the other types of packaging was positive.

Medium-term outlook

The outlook for the next few years is generally positive. While a lower sector growth rate is forecast for 2023 due to the general economic situation, in the following years an average annual growth rate of 1.1% is expected, with a production that is estimated to reach 19,141 t/000 in 2026.

ItaliaImballaggio January-February 2024