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Despite difficult external market conditions, global demand for machines and systems for the production, filling, and packaging of beverages and liquid foods continues to grow. Following a decline of approximately 7% to 41 billion euros in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in global food processing and packaging machinery trade, international foreign trade experienced another significant growth in 2021, with preliminary data indicating a 9% increase to around 45 billion euros.
According to estimates by the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, approximately one-third of world trade involves deliveries to the beverage and liquid food industry. Additional machines and components are statistically allocated to other sectors, such as stretch blow molding machines for PET bottles, heat exchangers, pumps, logistics solutions, or automation components. Investment in the beverage and liquid food industry may be much higher since total demand also includes machines procured in respective local markets.
Germany and Italy Lead Machine Equipment Export Rates
With an average export rate of 84% in 2020, accounting for 21% of world trade, German food and packaging machinery manufacturing industry companies lead the field, followed closely by Italy with a 20% share. China, Netherlands, United States, Switzerland, Japan, France, Spain, and Denmark follow, with shares in international foreign trade ranging between 6% and 2%.
45% of globally traded food and packaging machinery is shipped to European countries, with 32% going to EU countries. The second most important sales region is Asia with a 20% share. North America follows with 16%, Latin America with 7%, Africa with 6%, the Near East/Middle East region with 4%, and Australia/Oceania with 2%.
As in most previous years, in 2020 the top 10 sales markets list was led by the United States. Germany, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain followed. Demand from countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Republic of Korea, India, Vietnam, and Thailand is becoming increasingly strong.
