interpack 2023: investments in machinery and equipment are stimulated by the growing demand for packaged food

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However, demand varies in different regions of the world. According to forecasts, demand in developing countries and countries characterized by lower per capita consumption will rise above average. This is especially the case in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In these regions, but also in Latin America and Eastern Europe, more and more consumers choose high-quality products produced and packaged in accordance with hygiene requirements. Even in saturated markets with already high per capita consumption, the demand for packaged food is stabilizing at a high level. The awareness of consumers is changing and their consumption habits are also changing: they are more and more careful about what and how much they eat, and they consciously buy less so that they have to throw away less.

Eastern Europe (excluding the Baltic states) represents nearly 8 percent of the world market for packaged foods

Within Europe, Eastern Europe accounts for approximately 28 percent of the packaged food market. According to expectations, demand from Eastern European countries is expected to rise by a total of 7 percent to 66 million tons between 2021 and 2026. The largest Eastern European recording market is Russia with a 47 percent share, followed by Poland and Ukraine with 14 and 7 percent, respectively. The markets of Romania and the Czech Republic represent 6 and 3 percent respectively within Europe.

The largest product group is dairy products

In this submarket, the sales volume is expected to increase by nearly 9 percent, so they expect 22 million tons in 2026. The second largest product group is bakery products, the demand for which is expected to grow by 3 percent annually and reach 19 million tons by 2026. In third place are meat, seafood and meat substitute products, the demand for which will increase by a total of 15 percent to 4 million tons by 2026. In fourth place are rice and pasta products with an expected growth of nearly 9 percent and 3 million tons in 2026, followed by sauces, dressings and spices with sales increasing by a total of 10 percent to 3 million tons by 2026.

Processing and packaging machines have a long history

According to the expectations of the Association of German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers, the increase in demand for packaged foods in the region means further investments in the field of food processing and packaging machinery due to the installation and development of appropriate production capacities. According to preliminary data, Eastern European countries imported food processing and packaging machines worth 4,852 million euros, which means an increase of almost 1 percent compared to the previous year. The three most important manufacturing countries of food processing and packaging machines were Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. A third of the machinery and equipment imported into the region (worth EUR 1,460 million, which represents an increase of 3.3 percent) was delivered by Germany, Italy’s share was 24 percent (EUR 1,162 million, +2.8 percent), and the Netherlands’ share was 7 percent (EUR 337 million, 14 .3 percent decrease).