shipping boxes

China produces more than half of the world's annual output of shipping boxes and cases. The country is particularly strong in the plastic and aluminum sectors of the product line, accounting for an estimated 60 and 90 percent of global output, respectively. Its share of steel toolbox production is currently small but with output growing by 30 percent every year, China is set to become a major supplier of this product as well. Shipping boxes and cases continue to be one of the fastest-developing product lines in China's storage containers industry, averaging 20 to 30 percent growth over the past 3 to 4 years. The country already ranks as one of the world's biggest suppliers of the product. Industry estimates place 2004 global output between 330 and 380 million units, with China accounting for 50 percent. In 2004, China shipped about 130 million units, or more than 70 percent of its output of 180 million shipping boxes and cases, mainly on an OEM basis to big-name clients such as Stanley and Sears of the United States, OBI of Germany and Carrefour of France.