etma: Industry Association Reports Decline in European Tube Market Deliveries in the First Half of 2025

The European tube industry recorded a market downturn in the first half of 2025. According to the European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma), total deliveries of aluminium, laminate, and plastic tubes fell by 3.9 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching approximately 5.8 billion units.

Varied Development Across Tube Types
The individual tube types showed mixed trends:

Aluminium Tubes: With just under 2 billion units delivered, volume decreased by 4.8 percent. Demand from the food sector remained stable, while a slight increase was recorded in the cosmetics sector. The decline is primarily due to reduced deliveries to the pharmaceutical industry, which is considered the most important sales segment.
Laminate Tubes: Deliveries in this segment amounted to approximately 2.36 billion units, representing an increase of 3.6 percent. Growth was mainly seen in the areas of dental care products and pharmaceuticals.
Plastic Tubes: The delivery volume decreased by 12.8 percent to about 1.47 billion units. The main reason was significantly lower demand in the cosmetics sector, particularly for tubes with smaller diameters.

Raw Material Availability and Global Trade Risks Burden the Industry
The limited availability of Post-Consumer Recyclates (PCR), especially in the plastic sector, continues to be an obstacle to the desired higher use of recyclates. Although the industry is actively pursuing this goal, it faces infrastructural and market-related limitations.

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Additional burden comes from increasing geopolitical tensions and protectionist measures. Notably, the US tariffs of 50 percent on aluminium tubes, which came into effect in August 2025, are causing uncertainty in international trade and disrupting existing supply chains.

Association Sees Industry Resilience Despite Difficult Conditions
Despite the tense market situation, etma points to the industry's resilience. Investments in innovation and sustainable packaging solutions are being continued. The association expresses cautious optimism for the remainder of the year but points to the ongoing challenges, particularly in the areas of raw material supply, demand development, and international trade conditions.

More information: www.etma-online.org

etma - The European Tube Manufacturers Association, Düsseldorf

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