Data Source: China National Aerosol Committee of China Packaging Federation
Report Date: August 2026

I. Industry Overview

In 2024, China’s aerosol industry demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability under multiple pressures including intensifying market competition, an evolving international trade environment, and consumer spending downgrades. According to statistics from the China National Aerosol Committee of the China Packaging Federation, the national aerosol output reached 25.60 billion cans in 2024, an increase from 24.75 billion cans in 2023, ending a three-year consecutive decline and signaling a positive recovery trend    .

From a longer-term perspective, China’s aerosol production grew from 1.554 billion cans in 2014 to 2.560 billion cans in 2024, a cumulative increase of 1.006 billion cans representing a growth rate of 64.74%, with an average annual compound growth rate of approximately 6.5% — significantly outpacing the global average over the same period. This growth underscores China’s strong position as a major global aerosol production powerhouse   .

II. Production Trend Analysis (2020–2024)

2.1 Annual Production Data

2.2 Trend Interpretation

From 2020 to 2023, China’s aerosol output experienced a three-year downward cycle, declining from a peak of 27.15 billion cans in 2020 to 24.75 billion cans in 2023, a cumulative decrease of approximately 8.8%. This downturn was primarily driven by:

Pandemic impact and supply chain disruptions: Global logistics disruptions and volatile raw material prices;

Escalating international trade frictions: Tariff barriers and technical trade measures in certain export markets;

Domestic consumption structure changes: Consumer spending downgrades that temporarily suppressed some aerosol categories.

In 2024, the industry rebounded to 25.60 billion cans, representing a 3.4% year-on-year increase, ending the three-year decline. This recovery was fueled by sustained efforts in technological innovation, product structure optimization, and market expansion, reflecting the strengthening self-repair capability of China’s aerosol industry    .

III. Global Market Position and Comparison

3.1 China’s Position in the Global Aerosol Market

In 2024, China’s aerosol output accounted for approximately 16% of the global total of roughly 160 billion cans, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest producer, behind only the United States. China’s production trend remains synchronized with the global trajectory, with both exports and domestic demand showing growth, demonstrating the industry’s continuously improving international competitiveness      .

3.2 Global Production Comparison by Country/Region

Note: The European Union as a whole produces approximately 37.5 billion cans, but this figure represents a combined total across multiple countries    .

3.3 Global Aerosol Development Trends

From a global perspective, the aerosol industry has developed relatively steadily over the past century, without explosive or leapfrog growth. The current global output of approximately 160 billion cans per year has been stagnant for years. China’s aerosol industry has a shorter history but generally follows the same global trend. This suggests that in the foreseeable future, dramatic growth in aerosol production is unlikely, and the industry will need to find growth opportunities through structural optimization and niche market development   .

IV. Product Structure Analysis

4.1 Product Category Breakdown

According to industry statistics, China’s aerosol product structure demonstrates a diversified pattern:

The top three categories — Paint & Coatings, Insecticide Products, and Personal Care Products — together account for 56% of the market, forming the foundation of China’s aerosol industry. Notably, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary & Animal Care Products account for 11%, and Food Aerosols represent 4%. Although these high-value-added segments currently hold smaller shares, they offer significant growth potential and are becoming key areas of strategic focus for enterprises    .

4.2 Aluminum vs. Tinplate Can Structure

In 2024, aluminum cans accounted for approximately 27% of China’s aerosol output, while tinplate (three-piece) cans represented 73%. Compared with international markets, China’s aluminum can share is notably low — globally, aluminum cans account for over 50% of total aerosol cans, with the EU at 55%, the US at 62%, and the UK at 68%. This indicates substantial room for structural upgrading in China’s aerosol packaging, with aluminum replacing tinplate representing a key future development direction   .

V. Aluminum Aerosol Can Market Analysis

5.1 Market Capacity and Production Capacity

In 2024, the actual market demand for aluminum aerosol cans in China (domestic filling + empty can exports) was approximately 950 million to 1 billion units. Based on the 27% share, domestic aerosol filling consumed approximately 700 million aluminum cans, while another 200 million to 250 million were exported as empty cans   .

However, on the supply side, the national aluminum aerosol can production capacity has reached 3.768 billion cans per year, broken down as follows:

The supply-to-demand ratio has approached 4:1, indicating severe overcapacity   .

5.2 Regional Distribution of Domestic Can-Making Lines

Domestic aluminum can production lines are concentrated in five provinces:

Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces together account for 73% of domestic can production capacity, forming a clear industrial cluster effect   .

5.3 Domestic Can Line Exports

Notably, Chinese-made canning equipment has begun to enter the international market. In recent years, over 40 domestic can-making lines have been exported to India, the Middle East, Africa and other regions, providing local aerosol filling companies with aluminum can supply. However, as these overseas production lines reach full capacity, they are gradually replacing the market share previously served by direct aluminum can imports from China — which is one of the reasons for the decline in China’s aluminum can exports to these regions in recent years   .

5.4 Overcapacity Challenges

Based on the growth rate of aerosol production over the past decade, the current nearly 3 billion cans of redundant capacity in aluminum cans cannot be absorbed within the next twenty years. Aluminum can manufacturing is a capital-intensive and technology-intensive industry. European imported production lines can cost over RMB 100 million, while domestic lines, though cheaper, still lag behind in performance, stability, and service life. The industry faces the severe challenge of intensified competition   .

VI. Policy and Regulatory Environment

6.1 Safety Production Standards

The Aerosol Safety Production Regulations are currently under revision and have entered the public comment phase, aiming to further enhance industry safety standards and protect both workers and consumers    .

6.2 Product Traceability Systems

The “One Certificate, One Product” system introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs requires each product to have a unique identifier;

The “One Enterprise, One Product, One Code” system introduced by the Ministry of Emergency Management enables full-chain traceability from production to circulation and use, improving regulatory efficiency and preventing counterfeit products    .

6.3 Environmental Standards

Implementation of the Limits of Harmful Substances in Coatings standard has driven the aerosol paint industry toward safer, more environmentally friendly practices;

The EU’s PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) imposes higher environmental standards on aerosol products, compelling domestic enterprises to upgrade their environmental technologies, set recycling targets, and ensure compliance with international standards to maintain export market access    .

VII. Technological Innovation and Industry Upgrading

7.1 Three Key Technology Breakthrough Directions

Domestication Breakthroughs: Localization of inner gaskets, development of plastic aerosol containers, and continuous optimization of domestic aluminum can manufacturing equipment, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening supply chain resilience;

Automation Upgrades: Accelerating the speed and efficiency of automated production lines to improve production efficiency and product quality while reducing costs;

Innovative Materials Application: Promoting the adoption of water-based formulations and other eco-friendly materials, reducing the use of hazardous substances, and driving product structure upgrades    .

7.2 Environmental Recycling System

The industry is actively promoting easy-to-recycle design, disposal and dismantling technology development, and circular utilization solutions for aerosol products, in response to global environmental trends and export market regulatory requirements    .

VIII. Future Trends and Outlook

8.1 Niche Market Deepening

Enterprises are focusing on developing specialized aerosol products for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic segments, creating differentiated competitive advantages and avoiding homogenized market competition. Currently, food aerosols account for only 4% and pharmaceutical aerosols account for 11% — these high-value-added tracks are expected to become important growth engines for the industry    .

8.2 Industry Concentration

Through mergers and acquisitions, the industry is expected to achieve higher concentration, create economies of scale, reduce production costs, strengthen bargaining power, and enhance risk resistance. This trend will help alleviate the current “involution” phenomenon and promote optimal resource allocation    .

8.3 Global Market Expansion

Companies are actively formulating overseas expansion strategies, exploring emerging markets through localized production, international brand building, and global cooperation to reduce the impact of trade barriers and increase global market share. Meanwhile, the export of domestic can-making equipment has opened new growth pathways      .

8.4 Aluminum Can Market Outlook

Despite the severe overcapacity and intense competition, aluminum aerosol cans — with advantages including high pressure resistance, excellent barrier properties, seamless construction, and rust resistance — still hold broad prospects in high-end applications such as pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics. As China’s aluminum can share (27%) moves toward the international level (over 50%), there remains structural growth potential in the long term. However, the industry should avoid blind investment and redundant construction, making data-driven decisions instead   .

IX. Summary and Recommendations

In 2024, China’s aerosol industry delivered a solid performance with 25.60 billion cans in total output, ending three consecutive years of decline and demonstrating the industry’s strong resilience and adaptive capacity. However, the industry also faces multiple challenges including overcapacity (aluminum can supply-demand ratio of 4:1), international trade barriers, tightening environmental regulations, and intensifying homogenized competition.

Based on the current industry situation, the following recommendations are proposed:

Strengthen industry data collection: Include non-member enterprises in the statistical system to provide more accurate data support for industry decision-making;

Avoid blind investment: With severe overcapacity, new investments should be carefully evaluated against market demand;

Promote technological innovation: Increase efforts in domestic technology development and narrow the gap with imported equipment;

Deepen niche market presence: Build differentiated competitive advantages in high-value-added segments such as food and pharmaceuticals;

Actively expand into global markets: Reduce trade risks and explore growth opportunities through localized production and international cooperation.

There is no doubt that the aerosol industry, both in China and globally, remains full of opportunities and promise — an industry worthy of long-term commitment   .

This report is based on data from the China National Aerosol Committee of the China Packaging Federation and related industry statistics. For reference purposes only.