With a turnover of R$ 18.3 billion and 33.4 billion cans sold in 2021, the sector, which is also the world champion in recycling, continues to invest in Brazil.

Since it arrived in Brazil, in 1989, the aluminum can entered the preference of the Brazilian consumer and, from that time until today, the increase in consumption was more than 80% from 2011 to 2021, according to the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas).

Even with the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the performance of beverage cans in Brazil grew 5.2% compared to the previous year, registering sales of R$ 18.3 billion, with 33.4 billion units consumed in the period.

The fact of continuing to grow, even with all the difficulties faced, proves the resilience of the sector and the preference of Brazilians for the aluminum can as the best packaging for beverages: “We had a year of growth in the beer market and in the platforms, precisely the product and sales channel in which the can stands out for its safety, practicality and convenience”, explains Abralatas’ CEO, Cátilo Cândido.

With the growth in consumption, the sector is increasingly attracting different types of beverages. Because of the characteristic that cans safely pack any type of beverage, today, in Brazil, there are more than 20 types of beverages sold in cans. In addition to the ‘traditional’ beer, soda, energy and juice, there has been an increase in canned cachaça (sugar cane brandy), wine, water, supplements, coffee and ‘ready to drink’ RTDs, beverages that bring innovation, optimizing the experience and standing out in the preferences of a new generation of consumers, as they allow the development of proposals that better meet their lifestyles, tastes and needs.

“Brazilian consumers like cans and have their preferences, they want more and more variety of beverages, labels, sizes and formats. A clear example of this is the growth of thinner cans, sleeks and slims, which has accompanied very well the excellent performance that the premium beer market has been having in Brazil”, explains the president of Abralatas.

“The sector is always attentive and connected, identifying the expectations of customers and consumers. Our goal is to offer new solutions, innovations that can be incorporated into the main quality of this packaging, which is the most sustainable on the planet,” adds Cándido.

This preference is accompanied by large investments. In the last three years, there were 5 new factories. For this year and next, another 4 new plants are expected in Brazil, in addition to a major expansion, with new production lines, in almost half of the existing plants. By next year, the total planned investment will reach US$ 1 billion.

It should be added that Brazil is the third largest aluminum beverage can market in the world, behind only China and the United States. But the growth of the sector in the last decade was accompanied by a factor that is currently being increasingly valued: recycling.

The sector is a pioneer in the circular economy in Brazil and is also one of the few countries that has managed to maintain the recycling level at more than 95%, even with a large increase in consumption. With this, the country is ahead of the United States of America, which recycles 59% of the cans consumed, and Europe, with an average of 67%.

The commitment of the sector is so serious that an agreement was signed with the Ministry of the Environment to improve, even more, the packaging recycling model, besides the creation of an entity with the exclusive purpose of fulfilling this Agreement: Recicla Latas (Recycle Cans). With this public pact, the sector commits to purchase 100% of the scrap cans available in Brazil, to recycle on a large scale, to carry out environmental education campaigns with consumers and to train public managers and cooperatives of recyclable material collectors.