May 7: Beverage can sales in Europe declined in the first quarter compared with last year, said market leader Rexam’s chief executive Leslie Van de Walle in an interim management statement in advance of today’s annual general meeting.
The decline was due to lower demand in both Western and Eastern Europe, he said.
But while Rexam’s performance reflected this, it was also affected by a “weakness” in Russia, where it last year acquired canmaker Rostar.
He said that it was too early to predict if the decline was a long-term trend, but if it was then capacity reductions would be considered.
