Asia And Africa Food Cans - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)

According to Mordor Intelligence, Asia and Africa food cans market size in 2026 is estimated at USD 7.91 billion, growing from 2025 value of USD 7.43 billion with 2031 projections showing USD 10.83 billion, growing at 6.49% CAGR over 2026-2031.

This report is Segmented by Material (Aluminum Cans, and Steel and Tin Cans), Can Type (2-Piece, and 3-Piece), Application (Fish and Seafood, Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Food, Pet Food, and More), Opening Type (Easy-Open End, and More), and Geography (Asia (China, India, South Korea, Southeast Asia), and Africa (South Africa)). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Asia And Africa Food Cans Market Trends and Insights

High Recyclable Score of Metal Cans Over Alternatives

Metal cans achieve recyclability rates above 90% in mature markets, positioning them favorably against plastics that face escalating regulatory scrutiny. South Africa's Extended Producer Responsibility program, in effect since 2021, imposes differentiated per-ton fees that financially reward highly recyclable substrates. China's convenience-store chain Bianlifeng has rolled out QR-code systems across 1,500 outlets to verify product authenticity, showcasing the digital potential of metal packaging. In Tanzania's Arusha city, municipal scrap collection exceeds 314 tonnes per month, resulting in conserved virgin iron ore and energy savings, and signaling to policymakers that the circular value of the Asia and Africa food cans market can be monetized locally. ISO 14001 certification is now a common selection criterion for multinational food processors, reinforcing the competitive edge of recyclable cans.

Demand for Canned Foods Driven by Cost and Convenience Advantages

Urban lifestyles compress meal-preparation time, pushing households toward shelf-stable proteins and vegetables. Indonesia hosts more than 41,000 grocery outlets, giving canned products deep retail reach. Nigerian shoppers increasingly prize nutrition and food safety, and packaging that communicates integrity drives brand preference. Limited refrigerators in peri-urban districts make canned fish and meats the reliable protein of choice. Vietnam's seafood industry shipped USD 9.2 billion worth of processed products by November 2024, illustrating how canning converts perishable marine harvests into exportable value. HACCP and GMP requirements remain entry tickets to regional supermarket shelves.

Plastic Remains a Credible Alternative

Flexible packs threaten cans in single-serve SKU lines. Rwanda's plastic ban raised per-unit costs five-fold for certain goods, showing that outright prohibition is not cost-neutral. West Africa's Mohinani Group built 30,000 tpa rPET plants in Ghana and Nigeria, giving converters low-carbon resin options. Tetra Recart cartons position themselves as 6 times lighter on the environment than tin cans for pet food. Yet cans still support retort temperatures above 121 °C, essential for institutional formats and emergency-relief rations.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

1. Product Innovations Increasing Shelf Life
2. Surge in Ready-to-Eat Seafood Exports From Southeast Asia
3. Price Volatility of Aluminum and Steel

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Steel and tin drums accounted for 56.15% of the Asia and Africa food cans market share in 2025, driven by established supply chains and price advantages associated with high-volume integrated steel mills in Guangdong and Jiangsu. The segment preserves competitive pricing for institutional tomato paste and large-format fruit cocktail, anchoring the Asia and Africa food cans market size at USD 4.17 billion that year. Producers utilize continuous annealing and chrome-free passivation to comply with EU food-contact regulations, while servo-controlled seamers enhance quality.

Aluminum cans are expected to grow at a 7.85% CAGR to 2031, driven by beverage converters transferring expertise to food lines and as recycling targets favor lightweight alloys. Crown Holdings grew global beverage-can income 24% year-over-year in Q1 2025, demonstrating aluminum's robust volume trajectory. Supply constraints paradoxically boost the segment's perceived scarcity value; Indonesia hosts two-thirds of the 2025 smelter additions, but geographic dispersion raises freight costs. Environmental targets under ISO 14001 align multinational food processors with aluminum adoption, underpinning the Asia and Africa food cans market.

Two-piece bodies controlled 66.94% market revenue in 2025, primarily through draw-and-iron lines that achieve high speed and low metal usage, crucial for cost-sensitive legumes and protein meals. Process automation includes in-line vision inspection and nitrogen dosing to extend headspace life. Crown transferred volumes from Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore into its Vung Tau super-plant, lowering conversion costs for regional accounts.

Three-piece formats show a 7.05% CAGR outlook, fueled by local tomato processors in Nigeria and Ghana that require variable heights and diameters. Dangote's Kadawa complex runs 1,200 tons per day through three-piece welders optimized for 400 g tomato paste. The technology's flexibility offsets its higher seam labor share, and laser side-seam welding narrows integrity gaps with two-piece bodies. Investments in automatic seam-powder sprinklers and internal lacquer ovens keep quality on par.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Material
  • Aluminum Cans
  • Steel/Tin Cans
• By Can Type
  • 2-Piece
  • 3-Piece
• By Application
  • Fish and Seafood
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Processed Food
  • Pet Food
  • Other Applications
• By Opening Type
  • Easy-Open End
  • Standard End
• By Geography
  • Asia
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Southeast Asia
  • Africa
    • South Africa

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

1. Crown Holdings Inc.
2. Silgan Holdings Inc.
3. Ardagh Group S.A.
4. Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd.
5. ORG Packaging Co. Limited
6. Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad
7. Kaira Can Private Limited
8. Asia Can Co. Ltd.
9. Dongwon Systems Corporation
10. Nampak Ltd.
11. Can It (Pty) Ltd.
12. Royal Cans Industries Company
13. CanSmart Group
14. MC Packaging Pte Ltd.
15. Mahkota Can Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.
16. Shanghai Baosteel Packaging Co. Ltd.
17. PT United Can Company
18. Fujian Fuzheng Metal Packaging Co. Ltd.
19. GuangDong Huayi Metal Packaging Co. Ltd.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support