Amec Envasgraf, the machinery association of container and packaging manufacturers that is part of Amec, held a meeting yesterday with the media related to the packaging and related technology sector in which it shared the situation of the sector.
Companies have been very active, both in 2023, in which exports have increased by 10,5%, and at the beginning of 2024. However, as explained by the president of Amec Envasgraf and CEO of EFFYTEC, Lluís Villegas, in recent months “it is more difficult to materialize and close projects due to the uncertainty of the international context”, this means that “projects are postponed and the maturation time is much longer” added Villegas. In this sense, the uncertainty and instability of international markets is the main difficulty in developing international activity for 57% of companies in 2023, as highlighted by the members of amec in the survey carried out in the Coyuntura 2023 report and Perspectives 2024, explained the director of Amec Envasgraf, Carmina Castellà.
At the level of supplies of electronic components, an issue that was of great concern to companies in the sector during 2022, Carmina Castellà declares that “in 2023 the situation has stabilized”, however, “the prices of raw materials have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels,” he adds.
With respect to exports of companies in the sector to the United States, these continue their increase in 2023. France, Mexico, Poland, India and Brazil also show a significant increase, maintaining the growth trend in the last 4 years. The UK market stands out, where exports have skyrocketed exponentially in 2023 after a period of stagnation in the last 3 years. “We remain among the top ten exporting countries worldwide, specifically Spain is in ninth place,” says the director of Amec Envasgraf.
In relation to future trends of the sector, Carmina Castellà highlights that the main ones for 2024 are sustainability and industry 4.0. Specifically, “companies have incorporated sustainability into their activity by manufacturing equipment that can handle recyclable and thinner packaging materials, allowing for lower energy consumption and lower water consumption,” says the director of amec envasgraf. All these innovations are being exhibited at Hispack 2024, where 40 Amec Envasgraf companies are present.
Carmina Castellà has also influenced the work that the entity is doing to promote the competitiveness of companies in the sector, adapting its value proposition to face the main current challenges of its members: collaboration, internationalization, sustainability and talent.
This year, Amec Envasgraf will accompany its members to the main exhibitions such as Expopack in Mexico, Propak Asia in Thailand, Packexpo in Chicago and Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai. Companies in the sector will also be able to participate in a visit to the Eurasia Packaging fair in Istanbul. In addition, it makes the international promotion platform available to companies. Spanish Packaging Technologies, which is a sector showcase for international buyers.
Photo: Carmina Castelà and Lluís Villegas, during the meeting with the press at Hispack.
