Business Strategy and Outlook
| Spencer Liberman |Ball is the world's largest producer of aluminum beverage cans. Used primarily for carbonated soft drinks and beer, aluminum cans are historically a low-growth industry but one with favorable competitive dynamics for incumbents. Ball became the world’s largest producer of aluminum beverage cans in 2016 with its sizable acquisition of Rexam. As a condition of the acquisition, Ball was required to divest eight aluminum can plants in the United States. These assets were sold to Ball’s competitor, Ardagh. Since the acquisition, Ball has divested from specific industries (such as steel food and aerosol containers) and regions (China) to focus on producing aluminum cans in markets where it can earn strong economic profits.