'India's packaging consumption up 200 percent in a decade'

India's packaging consumption has increased 200 percent in a decade, from 4.3 kg per person per annum (pppa) to 8.6 kg pppa, industry body Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), said on Tuesday.

"India's per capita consumption for packaging is now at 8.6 kg per person per annum, as against Germany's 42 kg and China's 20 kg," director IIP N.C. Saha said in a statement here.

"India's consumption was only 4.3 kg per person per annum, just a decade ago. This is a 200 percent growth," he added.

IIP said the Rs.65,000 crore domestic packaging industry is expected to grow at 18-20 percent to reach Rs.82,500 crore by 2016.

"A great deal of this increase can be attributed to the food and beverage and pharmaceutical segments, which occupy the largest share in the packaging industry accounting for 85 percent and 10 percent, respectively," IIP said.

The packaging industry association is organising its flagship exhibition, Indiapack 2015, here next month.

Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate Indiapack 2015 on October 8 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre here.

Indiapack 2015 will also host the World Packaging Congress on October 9, to be inaugurated by Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Indiapack 2015 will also focus on increasing the export market for fresh fruits, vegetables and commodities like tea and coffee, thanks to the participation of bodies like the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Marine Products Exports Development Authority and the food processing ministry.