The global food and beverage metal cans market is valued at $57.19 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach $80.21 billion by 2031, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.0% over the period. The projection reflects accelerating demand across carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, canned vegetables, soups, and ready-to-eat meals — categories where metal packaging offers shelf-stability, recyclability, and supply-chain efficiency that competing formats struggle to match.
The Numbers
The beverage segment commands the largest application share, underpinned by high-volume production of carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and energy and sports drinks. Within beverage cans, the 330 ml format holds the leading capacity segment by both share and growth rate, reflecting its alignment with established filling and distribution infrastructure and consumer preference for single-serve portions. By material, aluminum accounts for the largest share of the market; by fabrication type, 2-piece cans are expected to post the highest CAGR at 7.02% through 2031. Bright coating commands roughly 70.7% of the coating segment. On the food application side, canned goods are forecast to grow at 7.2% annually — the highest rate among end-use categories — as processors lean on shelf-stable formats to manage supply chain volatility and extend product reach into emerging retail and foodservice channels.
Regional Picture
Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region, projected to register a CAGR of 7.9% — outpacing the global average by nearly a full percentage point. The region's expansion is driven by rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, and the rapid rollout of modern retail and convenience foodservice formats that favour packaged, ready-to-drink products. Europe ranks second in growth momentum, supported by robust recycling infrastructure and tightening EU packaging regulations that are tilting procurement decisions toward recyclable aluminum and steel. Sustainability requirements are increasingly functioning as a structural tailwind rather than a compliance cost for metal can producers serving European food and beverage customers.
Deals and Capacity
Consolidation is reshaping the competitive landscape. Ball Corporation acquired Alucan, a European specialist in extruded aluminum aerosol and bottle technology with facilities in Spain and Belgium, bolstering its lightweight and recycled-content capabilities. Ball also announced an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Benepack S.A., a Belgian beverage can manufacturer, further expanding its European aluminum footprint. Crown Holdings, meanwhile, acquired the Saarlouis facility in Germany, adding approximately 1 billion units of annual production capacity and absorbing Helvetia's existing customer contracts — a move that deepens Crown's penetration of the German and broader European beverage packaging market. On the technology front, CANPACK Group and U.S.-based Canovation formalized a collaboration in June 2026 to commercialize Canovation's CanReseal technology, targeting sustainable resealable can solutions for beverage applications.
The market remains moderately fragmented. Crown Holdings, Ball Corporation, Ardagh Group, CANPACK Group, and Toyo Seikan Group Holdings collectively account for a significant share of global revenue, competing on manufacturing scale, coating technology, customer relationships, and sustainability credentials. Growth constraints include strict materials regulations in developed markets and underdeveloped collection and recycling infrastructure in parts of the developing world — factors that could temper adoption rates even as underlying demand for convenient, shelf-stable packaging continues to rise across food and beverage categories.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
