Best Latin America Export Markets for the Packaging Industry (March 2013)

This Market Brief provides an overview of the world market for Packaging Equipment products in the HS 8422 category, based on the latest trade statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau and the United Nations Statistics Division and market research prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Export growth: U.S. exports of HS 842230 products rose from $1.113 billion in 2007 to $1.127 billion in 2010, an increase of 1.31% over the four-year period. Leading Export Markets: Canada is by far the leading market for U.S. exports of HS 8422 products ($431.6 million in 2010, or 38.3% of total). Other top markets (all valued above $30 million) were: Mexico (11.5%), Germany (4.2%), United Kingdom (3.5%), China (2.7%), Australia (2.55%), Brazil (2.53%) and Italy (2.34%). Fastest Growing Export Markets: The leading markets with both high and sustained growth rates for U.S. exports of HS 842230 products over 2007-2010 were: China and Brazil. Other significant growth markets in the top 30 over the 2009-2010 periods were: Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Dominican Republic, Chile, Luxembourg and Ecuador. Leading and Fastest Growing Importing Countries: The top foreign importers of HS 8422 products in 2010 (all above $1.3 billion) were China ($1.75 billion or 7.9% of total), France (6.2%) and Germany (5.9%). Other significant importers (all above $500 million) were United Kingdom (3.6%), Russia (3.4%), Italy (3.1%), Canada (2.9%), Spain (2.5%) and Switzerland (2.4%). The leading importers with both high and sustained import growth rates for HS 8422 products over the latest four years (2007-2010) and continuing in 2009-2010 were China, Austria, Brazil, India, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand. Other significant growth markets in the top 25 over the 2007-2010 period were France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey and Japan. World Market Size & U.S. Share: Total world exports of HS 8422 products by all countries reached $23 billion in 2010. The U.S. had a 4.9% share of the total world market in 2010, topped only by Germany (27.9%) and Italy (24.4%). Other world suppliers with significant market shares were China (4.9%), Sweden (3.6%), Switzerland (3.3%), France (3.1%) and Poland (3.1%). Best Market Prospects: The following markets appear particularly promising for exports of Packaging Machinery products: Afghanistan, Argentina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Swaziland, Tanzania and Thailand.