Amcor unveils plans for China expansion at Shanghai expo

Amcor Plc, the Zurich-headquartered packaging group which has 400 plants worldwide, is considering building a new factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province, to expand production of medical, pharmaceutical and food packaging, according to senior executives.

The investment is aimed at strengthening the company's local manufacturing capacity and meeting rising demand for high-performance packaging materials in China's fast-growing healthcare and consumer sectors, according to Chris Kenneally, president for Asia-Pacific at Amcor.

With 23 manufacturing bases in China, the Australian executive said Amcor intends to further invest in automation and supply chain operations at its plant in Huizhou, Guangdong province. The company also plans to expand its facilities in Foshan and Dongguan in the same province as part of efforts to fuel future growth in China.

Apart from showcasing nearly 300 packaging exhibits at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, the company signed more than 400 million yuan ($56.2 million) worth of business contracts with both Chinese and global clients during the event.

Kenneally said Amcor's confidence in China stems both from the market's sustained growth and from platforms such as the CIIE, which reinforce the collaborative relationship between China and global companies.

Kenneally said that Amcor's exports from China are underpinned by two main pillars, the first being products. The group supplies markets including Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America with goods manufactured in China, where its operations have become a key source of innovation. China is increasingly regarded as a leader in packaging innovation.

"The second pillar is talent, with China teams providing key expertise that increasingly supports Amcor's wider global operations," he added.

She Xin, president of Amcor China and North Asia, said many Chinese companies — from automakers and apparel producers to food, beverage and even ice cream brands — are expanding quickly into overseas markets and establishing manufacturing facilities abroad.

Amcor, he said, is ready to follow these customers as they globalize and will provide packaging solutions to support their growth in new markets.