Packaging Digest

The Consumer Specialty Products Assn. (CSPA) has released the results of its 2012 Aerosol Pressurized Products Survey, which serves as an annual indicator of the business strength of the aerosol products industry. For a third consecutive year, U.S. aerosol product production increased, setting a new record high with more than 3.8 billion total units filled. The addition of 33 million more units filled—a 0.9 percent increase over the previous year—contributed to setting a new high mark for aerosol production in the United States. This year marks the 62nd year CSPA has conducted and released the results of this survey. Survey data were collected and verified by the independent firm Association Research Inc.

Highlighted in the survey findings, household products continue to rank as the largest product category (29 percent of all products) with a production increase of 2.8 percent over last year. Animal aerosol products, a small category which includes pesticides and grooming products that are used or sprayed directly on animals, showed the greatest percent gain with a 31 percent increase in production.

Additionally, the survey reports the unit volume of aerosol packaging components manufactured and delivered for domestic use in 2012, as well as estimates for Canadian and Mexican production. Combined North American aerosol product fillings totaled 4.4 billion units in 2012.

"This year's survey shows historic highs not only for U.S. aerosol product production, but also for all of North America as well," says CSPA president/CEO Chris Cathcart. "Consumer demand for aerosol products continues to grow. Aerosol products provide a convenient packaging form for use in making a large variety of popular products for consumers."

Respondents involved in this survey included companies that manufacture aerosol products, as well as manufacturers of the aerosol containers and valves that they use. More than 95 percent of the units manufactured were reported directly by the companies that filled them, which makes the data highly reliable.

"For more than six decades the Aerosol Pressurized Products Survey has served as an important resource for companies involved in the aerosol product industry, providing them with unique and valuable data for guiding business planning, investment, sales and R&D decisions," Cathcart says.

Notable survey findings

• Combined North American (U.S., Canada, Mexico) aerosol product manufacturing totaled 4.4 billion units in 2012