Packaging sector will shrink 2.6 percent due to weak economic activity

Sao Paulo-the high expected sales of packaging in the second half will be insufficient to compensate for losses recorded by June. The industry must move R$ 60.6 billion this year, 2.6% indentation before 2015, projects the Brazilian packaging Association (Abre).
From January to June, the production of packaging recorded losses in almost all segments in comparison with same period in 2015, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of geography and statistics (IBGE).
"We design 3.7% loss in production this year, but the second-quarter numbers came in a little better and the performance of the second half should take the industry to close the year with a fall of 2.6%," said the Coordinator of economic analyses of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), Solomon paintings. The FGV performs industry studies at the request of the Brazilian packaging Association (Abre).
In the survey done by the FGV, the only thread that accumulates high on production in the first six months of the year is glass (+1.09%). In the evaluation, the movement tends to be punctual and glass accounts for a small slice of the market.
The prospect for the next few months and 2017, noted economist, is gradual improvement. But a consistent restart still depends on increased consumption by households.
"The expectation of entrepreneurs also comes improving, believe in the light of a clearer separation of political and economic scenario. In addition, we are working to bring more and more innovation in this industry, "said the President of Opens, Gisela Schulzinger.
The flexible plastic packaging maker Bemis also sees the improvement in confidence. "Demand remains stable and has been revisiting an positive trajectory, in line with the increased industry confidence index," said marketing director for Latin America of the Bemis, Luiz Henrique Duarte. The manufacturer expects a 2 percent increase in sales this year.
Strategy
For the Rio Bonapel, which produces corrugated boxes, styrofoam and expanded polyethylene, entry into new regions of the country will ensure the increased sales in the coming months.
"We attended the furniture, but in the last two years the strategy includes working with customers of different niches, such as drinks, cutlery and electronics," said commercial Director of Bonapel, Evandro De Bona. He hopes to expand by up to 5% of the volume sold in this year, after growing 25% last year. For 2017, the goal is to resume the pace of expansion seen in 2015 with the entry in Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
To the French Ipackchem, specializing in packaging for the chemical industry, the agribusiness chain demand should sustain the increase in sales until 2017.
"Our sales are driven by the demand of agribusiness and the Brazil is one of the largest markets for it. So much so that we''ve waited to expand production capacity in 2017 ", strengthened the company''s Director, Philippe Carasso. The Ipackchem opened its first factory in Brazil this year, in Paulínia (SP), but the Executive does not reveal the capacity installed in the unit.