Can makers pay more for tinplate-Crown Food

Factiva: "Tin can makers are paying about 50 percent more this year for tinplate, used to make cans, despite falling commodity prices as demand for canned food rises due to the recession, Crown Food Europe said on Monday.

Crown Food Europe is part of U.S.-based Crown Holdings, the world's largest producer of food and aerosol cans and the third-largest producer of beverage cans."

"This is not just a European phenomenon, it is happening in all major regions of the world," he said.

Crown Food Europe has no plans to switch to alternatives such as plastic because tin cans are economical.

"Cans are 100 percent and infinitely recyclable without loss of quality," Aubry said. "Packaging weight reductions and recycling have reduced energy ... requirements throughout the supply chain."