Declining tube production in Europe in 2025

European tube market remains resilient despite headwinds

Deliveries by tube manufacturers organised in the European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) decreased by 3.6 per cent to a total volume of around 11.1 billion units in 2025 compared to the previous year.

All material segments showed a declining trend, although with varying intensity. Aluminium tubes recorded a total volume of 3.8 billion units, down by 2.5 % year-on-year, mainly driven by weaker demand from the pharmaceutical sector, the most important end-use market for this segment. Plastic tubes declined more significantly by 6.7 % to 2.87 billion units, reflecting a notable slowdown in demand from the cosmetics sector, particularly in small-diameter formats after a stronger performance in the previous year. Laminate tubes remained comparatively stable with a slight decrease of 1.0 % to 4.43 billion units.

“In 2025, the European tube market was still operating in a challenging environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, cautious consumer sentiment and continued cost pressure across energy, labour and raw materials,” says etma Secretary General Seifeldin Raslan Mohamed. “While demand remained solid in several core application areas, we clearly saw a correction in segments that had experienced stronger performance in previous years, particularly in cosmetics-related applications.”

Gradual recovery in 2026 overshadowed by renewed supply chain pressure

While the first quarter of 2026 has shown encouraging signs of a gradual recovery across several end-use markets, particularly in pharmaceuticals and selected cosmetic applications, this positive momentum is increasingly being accompanied by renewed external pressure factors affecting the global supply chain environment.

In particular, the escalation of the US–Iran war in March 2026 has led to significant disruptions in international logistics routes and has triggered a sharp increase in raw material prices across key input categories relevant for tube manufacturing. At the same time, availability constraints have re-emerged in certain segments of the metal and polymer supply chains, adding further complexity to an already fragile cost environment. These developments are once again reducing planning certainty for manufacturers across the European tube industry. While demand trends are improving compared to the previous year, the volatility on the supply side is creating a more uneven and less predictable operating landscape. This particularly affects energy-intensive production steps and globally traded raw materials, where price fluctuations have become more pronounced in recent months.

Despite these challenges, the industry remains cautiously optimistic regarding the overall outcome of the first half of 2026. The underlying demand recovery, combined with continued resilience in core application areas such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food packaging, provides a stable foundation for the sector. However, the balance between improving demand and increasing supply-side pressure will remain a key factor shaping short-term performance. etma will publish detailed statistical data for the first half of 2026 in its official press release in September 2026, providing a comprehensive overview of market developments and segment-specific trends.