El Packaging Cluster and market research company marketAAD have presented a study that analyzes the current situation of the Catalan packaging sectorn, taking into account variables such as turnover, debt, number of employees and economic profitability.
According to the study, the Catalan packaging sector has invoiced 12.908 million euros during 2023, a figure that represents 24,5% more Over the previous year. This growth represents a historical record in turnover and an increase of more than 40% from pre-pandemic economic levels in 2019. Currently, the Catalan packaging sector represents 4,77% of GDP, a percentage that continues to grow compared to the previous years.
In Catalonia, 723 companies They are dedicated to the packaging sector. Of these, 217 are specialized in the plastic subsector, followed by the cardboard subsector, which stands out with 163 companies in the territory. As a whole, Catalan packaging companies continue to increase the hiring of personnel, specifically 5,2% more compared to 2022.
The report also shows that the profitability levels of the sector have increased slightly throughout 2023 (from 6,28% to 6,47%), while the debt levels of Catalan companies have been reduced to 52,55 %.
Regarding foreign trade in the sector, it has experienced significant growth in the value of trade flows (+20% in imports and 10,88% in exports). The evolution of demand in both Spain and Europe has also experienced pronounced increases in all the main mass consumption sectors. In Spain, the food and beverage sector has grown in values of around 10%, while the pharmaceutical sector (16%) and cosmetics (61%) provide the most pronounced growth.
Industry trends
The research also exposes the main trends in the sector, which will further energize the market: business competitiveness, changes in the regulatory framework and ecodesign and sustainability strategies.
With regards to business competitiveness, The packaging sector in Catalonia is consolidating itself as one of the country's strategic industries, being capable of attracting foreign investment for the sector and its value chain. In this sense, the application of artificial intelligence and digital technologies are boosting the competitiveness of the industry, improving its processes and efficiency in the supply chain.
The regulatory framework, the approval of the law on waste and single pollutants (Law 7/2022) and its annex on the tax on single-use plastic packaging, as well as the law on packaging and packaging waste (RD 1055/2022), has indicated new rules of the game, currently in the process of implementation for brands and the industry. In parallel, the corporate sustainability reporting (ESG Reporting) directive, 2022/2464, which will come into force in fiscal year 2024, will establish new dynamics of transparency in the supply chain and promote new demands for sustainability in packaging end markets. and in the supplier companies.
Finally, brands, especially those in the mass consumption sector, are developing new marketing strategies. ecodesign that allow them to improve their materiality indices, sustainability reporting and their reputational impact in the face of a consumer who is increasingly aware of the use of packaging and the life cycle of their materials. In this sense, an increase in innovative solutions is identified in the market focused on improving the recyclability of materials and the reuse of secondary raw materials of recycled origin.
Martin Font, President of the Cluster, considers that "the packaging sector has known how to adapt in this complex context of sudden increase in raw material and energy costs, maintaining the competitiveness of the sector to continue having healthy and viable companies." Furthermore, she adds that "packaging companies in Catalonia are an example in fundamental areas such as internationalization and innovation, and from the Cluster we want to continue promoting these two areas."
The presentation of the study, by Adrià Llacuna, project director of marketAAD - the company in charge of the research -, took place last Wednesday, January 24 at the headquarters of the GREMI de la Indústria i la Comunicació Gràfica de Catalunya and had the support of Hispack, the reference fair for the sector that It will be held in Barcelona from May 7 to 10, 2024 and plans to bring together more than 1.250 brands.
During the day, a round table dedicated to the present and future of the sector was also held, with the participation of Pere Coll, director of R&D&I at Enplater; Iban Cid, president of Germark; Joan Lladó, production director of Alzamora Group; and was moderated by Àlex Brossa Enrique, Packaging cluster manager
