GLOBAL METALWORKING INDUSTRY RECOVERS WITH GOOD RESULTS

The global beverage can market is experiencing rapid revenue growth. Over the past two years, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has severely impacted a multitude of sectors. Despite the current uncertainty, the international metalworking industry is flexing its muscles in the face of raw material shortages, rising prices and shipping costs. Bumps that have hindered the process, but without breaking the chain of production and marketing of metal packaging, guaranteeing the final distribution in the supply chain to the consumer.

This progressive increase is mainly due to companies resuming operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the impact of Covid-19, which had previously led to restrictive containment measures of social distancing, remote work and the closure of business activities that proved operationally challenging.

Companies operating in the food can sector are increasingly focusing on recyclable aluminum cans to strengthen their position. If this trend continues, the market is expected to reach $32.69 billion by 2025.

BALL REPORTS SOLID YEAR-END RESULTS

Ball’s full-year 2021 comparable net earnings were $1.16 billion. For John A. Hayes, chairman and chief executive officer, “We finished 2021 strong and returned approximately $950 million to shareholders after investing $1.7 billion in capital expenditures to support our growth during the year.”

Demand for aluminum beverage containers continues to outstrip supply in North America. In addition to the company’s new beverage can manufacturing facilities in Glendale, Arizona , and Pittston, Pennsylvania , the company will begin construction of new beverage can manufacturing facilities in North Las Vegas, Nevada , and Concord, North Carolina , in 2022. and 2023, respectively, to meet the long-term committed volume.

Full-year comparable segment operating profit increased 28 percent and reflects segment volume growth of 8 percent, an increased specialty mix and strong year-over-year consumer trends across Europe.

The shift in the packaging mix towards sustainable aluminum cans also continues and demand is outstripping supply. Successfully executed line ramp-ups in 2021 and new projects in the United Kingdom, Russia and the Czech Republic during 2022 will enable further volume growth and operating profits and are supported by long-term contracts.

CROWN HOLDING AT ALL-TIME HIGHS AFTER CLOSING 2021 ON THE RISE

The multinational Crown Holdings, with factories in Valencia and Murcia, has closed its best year on the stock market at record highs. The world’s largest manufacturer of aluminum cans recorded a historic stock market growth reaching a revaluation of 11.25% which demonstrates the good state of the company by achieving for the third consecutive year positive data with rises that in 2019 were 74.5% while in 2020 reached 38.1%.

The multinational company chaired and directed by Timothy J. Donahue closed last year with a capitalization of around 12.4 billion euros at the exchange rate, or more than 1.25 billion euros compared to the amount it had at the end of 2020.

However, Crown Holdings will report to the market on February 8, when it will release its results for the past fiscal year after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Over the first nine months of 2021, it earned some €390 million, 3% more than in the same period of 2020. Sales, meanwhile, soared 20% to nearly 7.4 billion.

ARDAG METAL PACKAGING RECORDS SOLID GROWTH

Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is a leading global supplier of sustainable and infinitely recyclable metal beverage cans to brand owners. A subsidiary of the sustainable packaging business Ardagh Group, AMP is a leading industry player in Europe, North America and Brazil with innovative production capabilities.

AMP operates 23 production facilities in nine countries, employing close to 5,000 employees with sales of approximately US$3.5 billion. Paul Coulson, President and CEO, notes, “The Group performed very well in the second quarter of last year, with solid adjusted EBITDA growth led by advances of 18% at Ardagh Metal Packaging and 36% at Glass Packaging Europe. Our growth investments across our business are on track.”

SILGAN ANNOUNCES RECORD EARNINGS AND CASH GENERATION

Silgan Holdings, a leading provider of sustainable rigid packaging solutions for consumer goods products, reported full-year 2021 net income of $359.1 million.

“The Silgan team delivered another year of record performance and double-digit earnings growth and continued to demonstrate the power of the Company’s core product portfolio, disciplined capital allocation model, strong operating performance and relentless focus on meeting the unique requirements of our customers,” confirms Adam Greenlee, president and chief executive officer. “The team continued to successfully navigate the ongoing challenges related to the global pandemic as demand remained at high levels for our Dispensing and Specialty Closures and Metal Containers products with new record volume levels in both segments. Strong operating performance continued to help offset unprecedented inflation and ongoing labor and supply chain challenges, which eased during the fourth quarter but have yet to normalize,” Greenlee reiterates.

“Looking ahead to 2022, we expect improvements in supply chain and labor issues, as well as a more stable resin environment. In addition, our teams are working diligently toward the successful integration of the three acquisitions completed in 2021, which are expected to deliver additional significant earnings growth in 2022.