Ball Corporation has appointed Darlene J. Nicosia and Sherry L. Buck to its board of directors. Nicosia brings manufacturing and operations experience from large multinational industrial and consumer businesses, while Buck adds finance and governance expertise from prior chief financial officer roles. Both will sit on finance and audit-related board committees.
Why this mattersThe additions strengthen board oversight of capital-intensive expansion, including Ball's new beverage can plant under construction in Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Darlene J. Nicosia joins Ball's board with senior manufacturing and operations leadership background.
- Sherry L. Buck joins with finance and corporate governance expertise from prior CFO roles at public companies.
- Both directors are positioned on Ball's finance and audit-related board committees.
- Ball is building a new beverage can plant in Uttar Pradesh, India, backed by customer contracts and government incentives, targeted to progress toward 2029.
Ball Corporation has completed the sale of a 41% stake in its Saudi joint venture, Ball United Arab Can Manufacturing Company (UAC), to Chinese packaging group ORG Technology for USD 70 million. Ball retains a 10% interest in the venture, down from its previous 51% holding. The deal is intended to deepen cooperation with ORG and improve profitability by optimising ORG's assets and customer base across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Why this mattersBall cedes control of a Middle East aluminium can platform to a Chinese packaging rival, reshaping the regional beverage-can supply base.
- Ball sold 41% of Ball United Arab Can Manufacturing Company (UAC) to ORG Technology Co. for USD 70 million.
- Ball previously held 51% of the joint venture and now retains 10%.
- UAC makes aluminium cans for beverages, non-alcoholic beer, carbonated drinks, juices and mineral water from Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
- The transaction closed as of the 14 September 2026 announcement.
- Ball reported 2024 sales of USD 11.8 billion excluding its aerospace division.
- ORG Technology is a Beijing-headquartered packaging and marketing planning company.
Ball Corporation plans a greenfield two-line beverage can manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh, India, expected to start operations in 2029. The plant will be Ball's third in India, adding to existing sites in Taloja, Maharashtra and Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. Ball says the investment is supported by customer contracts and is expected to generate strong economic value added.
Why this mattersContracted greenfield capacity from 2029 takes Ball to three Indian plants, deepening local supply as rival can makers also build there.
- New two-line beverage can facility to be built in Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Facility expected to become operational in 2029.
- Ball already operates plants in Taloja, Maharashtra and Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.
- Ball entered the Indian market in 2016.
- Investment described as supported by customer contracts and expected to generate strong EVA.
Ball Corporation and Crown Holdings are investing a combined INR 50bn (USD 523m) in two separate aluminium beverage can projects at Uttar Pradesh's Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster. Crown has started construction of a two-line plant at Unnao costing INR 21bn, first announced in April 2026 and due on stream in the second half of 2027. Ball Beverage Packaging India has selected a site at Meerut for a plant with a proposed investment of INR 29bn, which has been granted incentives under Uttar Pradesh's 2023 policy for FDI and Fortune-listed investors.
Why this mattersTwo major can makers building capacity in the same Indian cluster signals a bet on rapid growth in aluminium can demand across alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Combined investment of INR 50 billion (USD 523 million) across two projects
- Ball Beverage Packaging India selected a site in Meerut, IMLC, investing INR 29 billion (USD 303 million)
- Crown Holdings is investing INR 21 billion (USD 220 million) in a greenfield plant on nearly 40 acres in Unnao
- Crown's plant was first announced in April 2026 and is scheduled to start operations in second half of 2027
- Crown's facility is expected to produce around 2.2 billion cans annually and create over 200 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs
- Crown has lined up long-term customers including United Breweries, part of Heineken
Crown Holdings has broken ground on its first beverage can manufacturing facility in India, at Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, with construction starting after an April 2026 announcement. The plant will feature two lines with combined annual capacity of about 2.2 billion aluminium cans, targeting the growing Indian beverage market, with operations set to begin in the second half of 2027.
Why this mattersCrown gains a domestic Indian can supply base of about 2.2 billion units from the second half of 2027, ahead of rival local capacity.
- Groundbreaking took place on 9 September 2026 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India
- The plant will have two production lines with combined annual capacity of approximately 2.2 billion aluminium beverage cans
- The facility was announced in April 2026
- Operations are scheduled to start in the second half of 2027
- Crown maintains full-year 2026 capital expenditure guidance of approximately $550 million
