The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) has released its first quarter 2026 shipment report, revealing a nuanced landscape for the metal packaging industry. Total shipments for food and general line cans in the U.S. reached 6,103.3 million units for the quarter, representing a 2.6% decline compared to the same period in 2025.

Despite the slight contraction in overall volume, certain segments—most notably pet food and fruit—demonstrated robust growth, highlighting shifting consumer demands and agricultural cycles.

Segment Performance: Winners and Losers

The food category, which remains the backbone of the industry, saw a marginal decrease of 0.7%, totaling 5,411.8 million units. However, a look into specific product lines reveals a story of diverging trends:

• Pet Food Surge: Standing out as a primary growth driver, pet food shipments rose 7.4% to 2,445 million units.
• Fruit Gains: Fruit (excluding juices) saw a significant double-digit jump of 13.3%.
• Vegetable Slump: Conversely, the vegetable segment (excluding juices) struggled, dropping 10.1% to 1,226.9 million units.
• General Packaging Decline: The non-food sector faced steeper headwinds, with General Packaging shipments falling 15.0%. Within this, Aerosol cans declined by 14.2%, while Other Non-foods (including paint and automotive products) dropped by 19.2%.

Manufacturing Insights: Two-Piece vs. Three-Piece

In terms of production processes, the industry saw a slight shift in favor of traditional three-piece construction for food items:

• Two-Piece Cans: Decreased by 1.6% to 4,416.1 million units.
• Three-Piece Cans: Increased by 3.3% to 995.6 million units.

Historical Context

When viewed against the historical data from 2025, the Q1 2026 total of 6,103.3 million is the lowest volume seen in five quarters. For comparison, the industry peaked in Q3 2025 with 7,955.1 million units, largely driven by the seasonal surge in vegetable and fruit harvests.

Industry Participation

The Q1 2026 report includes data from major industry players, including Crown Cork & Seal Company, Silgan Containers Corp, Trivium Packaging, and Sonoco, among others. CMI estimates that this reporting group represents over 90% of the total food and general line market in the United States.

While the start of 2026 shows a cooling trend in certain sectors, the continued expansion of the pet food segment provides a reliable anchor for manufacturers as they move into the busier harvest months of the second and third quarters.