It is worth noting that the estimated sizes of jar market place may look confusing. The confusion is a result of counting of glass containers – some are using units regardless of jar volume, while others are using units based on 0.5-l equivalent. The method of counting based on 0.5-l equivalent is a more sound approach. 

As of 2008, the estimated volume of production of glass jars in Russia was 1,494.8 million pieces. Over the last three years, the domestic output in physical terms has demonstrated a sustainable growth. The most impressive growth occurred in 2008 – 21% vs. 2007.

The major glass jar production capacities are concentrated in the following three Federal Districts: the Southern, Central and the Urals District.

Over the last four years, the Central District has shown the highest growth rate of glass jar production. As a result, its share in the overall output increased from 7.4% in 2005 to 28.9% in 2008.

A three-liter jar, popular in the Soviet period, is loosing gradually its leading positions in the market. However, it still makes up 20% of the market.

The percentage of 0.35-l jars has reached about 10% of the jar production output in the Russian Federation (RF), and the percentage of 0.5-l jars – 12%.

Jars of 0.65-l volume are rather popular in the Russian market, and their share amounts to 12% of the jar production output in Russia.

0.25-liter jars are used more commonly in Russia, and in 2008 their share in the production volume was 5%. Jars of 1.0 l volume make up 10% of the production volume.

The requirements of food industry, not matched by domestic manufacturers, and the need in recycled glass containers are satisfied by import. The volume of import of glass containers is higher than their export volume by several dozens of times. The remarkable import predominance over export is based on a rather limited range of the Russian glass containers. In addition, their quality is not always meeting the world standards.

Imported jars mostly satisfy the demand for high-quality glass containers for food products and non-standard-size containers. In the next several years, the size of jar import will still exceed its export volume. 
In 2008, 12% of the annual Russian requirements in glass jars were satisfied by imported products.

In 2006, the volume of import of jars into Russia was 19.9% higher vs. 2005. However, since 2007 the import volume has started to go down and in 2008 its level was 47.2% less than in 2006. Such considerable drop in the import volume is associated with the increased Russian production output targeted at meeting the consumer requirements. 

Major jar suppliers to the Russian market are Ukraine, Germany and Poland. Their aggregate share makes up over 74% of the overall import volume. Companies from Hungary, Armenia and Slovakia are still playing an active role in the Russian market.
Major companies importing glass jars to the Russian market: the Ukrainian companies – the Close Joint Stock Company “Kiev Glass Container Plant” and the Limited Liability Company (LLC) “Buchansky Glass Container Plant.” Their aggregate share makes up more than 28.3% of the overall import volume.

Other major importers include such German companies as «Noelle + Von Campe glashutte Gmbh» and “ARDAG GLASS GERMANY Gmbh,” which contribute 11.1% and 8.1% to the imported glass jars, respectively.

The structure of jar import has certain characteristics. The imported glass containers included mostly 0.45-l jars (about 7.9% of import volume in 2008), 0.23-l jars (6.7% of import volume in 2008) and 0.225-l (6% import volume in 2008). The jars of such volume are used for instant coffee packaging. A significant percentage (5.6% of import volume in 2008) falls on 0.72-l jars. The highest demand for this size has been demonstrated by manufactures of canned mushrooms and vegetables.

In 2008, the volume of export increased by 49.6% vs. 2007 as a result of the substantial growth of domestic production output. However, it is still insignificant and makes up 2.2% of the volume of glass jar consumption in the RF in 2008.
The structure of Russian export of glass containers by geographic region is characterized by the traditional emphasis on CIS countries. Half of the exported products are shipped to Ukraine.

In 2008, the volume of export of 0.5-l jars was almost the same as in 2005. If export dynamics are compared for jars of different sizes in physical terms, some differences would be noted. They are caused by the significant change in export structure over the last 4 years. In 2005, jars of larger sizes (1 and 3 l) dominated in the structure of export. After the upgrades of production lines and the modified requirements in Russia, the structure of export has changed. In 2008, about three quarters of the export volume fell on the jars with the volume of no more than 0.5 l. The highest percentages were made up by the containers of 0.2-0.3 l (0.2; 0.22; 0.25 and 0.3 l).

From 2005-2008, the growth rate of jar export from Russia achieved 173.9% and was 2.7 higher vs. 2005.

Glass jars are exported mainly to Kazakhstan – 42%. In 2008, the aggregate share of Ukraine and Azerbaijan was 47.8%. Thus, the share of other countries to which Russian jars were exported made up about 10.2% of the overall export volume.

The consumption of glass jars is characterized by seasonal fluctuations. It is believed that the period from August through October is the most “productive” season for canned-food industry. During this period, the demand for glass jars is outgrowing their supply.

The range of glass jars has expanded considerably over the last 3-4 years. It is noted for not very common sizes – 0.24 l, 0.9 l and 0.48 l rather than for such standard volumes as 0.25 l, 1.0 l and 0.5 l.

Modest volume-based savings provide price advantages for final products sold in the stores over other goods packed in standard-size jars. Also, additional domestic filling and capping lines have been launched. Their operation has ensured the availability of a variety of shapes, sizes and diameter of sealing rings.  

As of today, manufacturers prefer to use jars with the volume of 250 – 750 ml. Such jars have shown the highest demand among canned food consumers.  

In the next 2-3 years, the consumption of food-quality glass jars will reduce in the total volume of consumption of glass containers. 

In the modern market of glass containers, the originality of glass jar shape and design are becoming more and more important for consumers, though quality and price are still playing a role. As the competition enhances and the market of glass containers becomes saturated, the consumers will make emphasis on various design options, more sophisticated package and better logistics offered by suppliers. Jars of non-standard volumes of up to 1 liter will become more and more popular.