Sixteen of the seventeen machinery categories that PMMI monitors in this annual report experienced growth in 2006. Two categories, Wrapping (+18.6 percent) and Capping, Overcapping, Lidding and Sealing machinery (+11.2 percent) enjoyed double-digit growth. Converting machinery was the only machinery category with a modest decline of - 0.6 percent.
Exports of packaging machinery surpassed the $1 billion mark for the third consecutive year with $1 billion in equipment sold overseas, an increase of 0.5 percent.
U.S. domestic demand, which includes domestic shipments and import figures, increased by 8.4 percent to $6.6 billion in sales. Domestic shipments were up 7.2 percent to $5 billion and imports were up 12.6 percent with $1.5 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,” notes Charles D. Yuska, PMMI president and chief executive officer. “While things have slowed in 2007, capacity levels remain high, and we expect consumer goods companies to continue their past buying patterns at slightly moderate terms.”
