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Ball: 2026 Can Production ‘Sold Out’

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Link to article Stacks of unprinted cans in warehouse
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Technical Brewing Projects Director

Chuck joined the Brewers Association staff in 2013 after a long career as a craft brewer. He opened Tennessee’s first brewpub, Boscos, in 1992. As an owner and director of brewery operations for Boscos Brewing Company, he opened additional brewpubs in Memphis, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2007, Chuck opened and operated Ghost River Brewing in Memphis. He has served as chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Advisors, chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Directors, and was a member of the first Board of Directors for the Brewers Association. In his capacity as technical brewing projects manager, Chuck works with the Technical Committee and the safety, sustainability, quality, draught beer quality, engineering, and supply chain subcommittees to encourage and facilitate best practices in all phases of Brewers Association members' brewery operations.

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Demand for Aluminum Cans Stays Strong; Supply May Become Constrained

Ball Corporation, the world’s largest metal beverage container manufacturer, recently announced that 2026 production is “sold out.”

Demand for aluminum cans continues to rise, according to Ball corporate officials. During a recent Q4 earnings call, new Ball CEO Ron Lewis indicated demand for aluminum cans growing in the U.S. at roughly 2% in 2025 with global demand growing at an even faster pace.

Added Capacity on the Way

Ball plans to add capacity with the opening of a new Millersburg, Oregon, manufacturing facility, but will be “capacity constrained” until the new location comes online later in 2026. They recently closed older operating plants in New York, Arizona, and Minnesota.

Ball also announced plans to bring their production of can ends to the U.S. Consumer preference for aluminum cans as the package of choice continues to grow. Nielsen IQ estimates that roughly 75% of packaged craft beer is in aluminum cans.

What You Can Do Now

We encourage Brewers Association members to be proactive in communicating with their can supplier in order to secure an adequate supply in what could be a year of constrained availability.

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Link to author biography
Technical Brewing Projects Director

Chuck joined the Brewers Association staff in 2013 after a long career as a craft brewer. He opened Tennessee’s first brewpub, Boscos, in 1992. As an owner and director of brewery operations for Boscos Brewing Company, he opened additional brewpubs in Memphis, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2007, Chuck opened and operated Ghost River Brewing in Memphis. He has served as chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Advisors, chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Directors, and was a member of the first Board of Directors for the Brewers Association. In his capacity as technical brewing projects manager, Chuck works with the Technical Committee and the safety, sustainability, quality, draught beer quality, engineering, and supply chain subcommittees to encourage and facilitate best practices in all phases of Brewers Association members' brewery operations.

See Chuck Skypeck's Articles