Growth in the world metal packaging industry will be largely driven by growing disposable incomes, and consumption of consumer goods in the developing countries. Exposure to and adoption of Western lifestyles and habits will additionally lead to increased demand for metal packaging in the third world.

Of late, the metal packaging industry has been witnessing healthy growth primarily backed by changing consumer preferences. Improving living standards coupled with increased demand for canned, prepared foods have been the key propelling factors for growth in the industry. The era of convenience has catapulted the food, and beverage industry into a major revenue generating end-use application market. Increasing number of consumers, inclining towards ready-to-eat food to save money and time has been instrumental in jacking the demand for metal packaging materials in the food industry. Innovation ranks as a key variable for success in the marketplace and manufacturers not surprisingly are investing time and money into developing new types of metal cans. Examples of noteworthy innovations include translucent jars with resin linings, new convenient and easy-to-use small containers with resealable metal lids, pull-tab lids, twist tops, rectangular cans with peelable opening mechanisms, teardrop-shaped cans, and contoured cans.

The metal can industry is waging a battle on two fronts, one from plastic cans and the other from glass packaging. The emergence, and proliferation of plastic containers in the recent past as a replacement to metal packaging has threatened the survival of the metal container market. Metal cans have nevertheless stood up to the pressure of substitution, largely due to their well-entrenched use as the preferred packaging material for canned foods, beverages, and personal care products. Enhanced visual attractiveness, lightweight, and improved barrier properties, among others, are features, which have helped metal packaging products to contend with the superiority of other competitive alternatives. Demand for tinplate cans in Asia-Pacific and Latin America is rapidly expanding, while demand for the same Europe and the US has moderated over the years. As incomes continue to rise in the developing countries, canning of food and beverages will increase exponentially.

Demand for aluminum aerosol cans has been steadily rising, reaching a new level, driven largely by technological improvements in product performance, and features, and innovations in aesthetic appearance i.e. colors, shapes, and prints. Expansion in end-use application possibilities, especially in fields of cosmetics, consumer household appliances, pharmaceuticals, and food/beverage, among others, is helping polish up the market's prospects. Product customization as per end-user requirements is expected to additionally prop up demand patterns. For instance, corrosion resistant aluminium aerosol cans will significantly score gains in humid regions with tropical climates. With sales of aluminium aerosol cans posting significant incremental gains over the last few years, manufacturers are busy stepping up annual production capacities in anticipation of strong demand.

A weighty challenge confronting the metal packaging industry is environmental pollution and lack of effective recycling. Increasing levels of container waste, and inadequate waste handling, and recycling infrastructure, have emerged into major stumbling blocks. Manufacturers are already proactively responding to rising consumer awareness of environmental issues by innovating new, energy efficient production processes, and by stepping up recycling of aluminum cans. Other major challenges to reckon with include rising raw material costs (prices of aluminium), and spiraling energy prices, which together are exerting considerable pressures on the profit margins of metal can manufacturers.