According to the China Tinplate Industry Development and Investment Outlook Report (2024-2031) by Guanyan Research, the tinplate market is showing steady signs of growth, driven by the global push toward sustainable packaging. Tinplate—also known as electrolytic tin-coated steel—is a cold-rolled steel sheet coated with a thin layer of tin on both sides, combining steel’s strength with tin’s corrosion resistance. With properties such as non-toxicity, high durability, and excellent formability, tinplate is widely used in food cans, electronics, and chemical packaging.
Tinplate is a key material in the metal packaging industry, which accounts for approximately 13% of China’s packaging sector. Its recyclability and safety performance make it a preferred choice for high-end, eco-friendly, and intelligent packaging solutions. Data from the China Packaging Federation reveals that metal packaging’s share of the total packaging industry grew from 10.76% in 2020 to 13% in 2023—an increase of over 2 percentage points in just three years.
Between 2018 and 2022, China’s metal packaging market expanded from RMB 111.4 billion to RMB 150.1 billion, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.74%. With significant room for increased market penetration—such as China’s per capita consumption of beverage cans being less than 40 per year compared to 200–300 in developed countries—the industry is set for further expansion. Moreover, ongoing technological advancements and cost reductions are enhancing the efficiency and quality of metal packaging, contributing to its premiumization.
China has emerged as both a major producer and consumer of tinplate. However, recent years have seen a modest decline in domestic supply due to softer demand and compressed profit margins. In 2023, China produced 4.73 million tons of tinplate and 1.22 million tons of chrome-coated steel.
While tinplate exports initially grew, they later fell in response to changing global demand. China exported 1.42 million tons of tinplate in 2023, a year-on-year drop of 17.53%.
At the same time, growing global environmental awareness is driving the tinplate packaging industry toward greener production methods. Notably, multinational companies have begun replacing phenolsulfonic acid (PSA) with methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in high-speed tinplating to reduce environmental impact. However, MSA tinning additives are currently monopolized by a U.S. supplier, which has raised prices and caused concern among Chinese steel producers. This highlights the urgent need for domestically developed and IP-owned alternatives to overcome foreign technology barriers.
Tinplate demand is closely tied to the production and consumption cycles of its downstream industries. These applications fall into two main categories: food-grade packaging (e.g., beverage cans, canned food, milk powder cans) and non-food-grade packaging (e.g., chemical drums, aerosol cans, electronic components). Currently, the market is witnessing a gradual recovery in demand.
In Q1 2024, demand remained soft, but is expected to improve in Q2 due to peak-season restocking for tea tins and summer beverage cans. Dairy-related demand may decline slightly, while beer packaging demand is likely to remain stable. It's also worth noting that tinplate demand is influenced not only by seasonal factors but also by cost-driven material substitution and industrial upgrading in the packaging sector.
Currently, beverage cans account for the largest share of tinplate usage at 25%, followed by food cans, chemical containers, and gift tins. The production output of canned food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks directly impacts tinplate consumption.
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