For the full year 2009 total sales were down from $7.56bn in 2008 to $7.35bn but metal beverage packaging sales in the US bucked the downward trend as four packaging plants acquired in October became accretive to earnings in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, In Europe, metal packaging sales continued to struggle prompting Ball to cut costs in an effort to balance its business with lower demand. But in other parts of the world Ball is investing in search of future sales growth.

In Q4, Ball announced an agreement to acquire a partner’s interest in a joint venture metal beverage can and end plant in southern China. And in Brazil, the company’s new joint venture beverage can plant near Rio de Janeiro started up in November.

In addition to supply the beverage can market Ball is also a supplier of metal and plastic packaging to the food and household goods markets.