Retort Packaging Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material (Plastics {Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), and Others}, Aluminum, and Others), By Product Type (Bags & Pouches, Cups, Trays & Cups, and Others), By End-Use (Food {Pet Food, Ready-to-eat Meals, Meat, Poultry & Seafood, Soups & Sauces, Baby Food, and Others}, Beverages, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global retort packaging market size was valued at USD 4.62 billion in 2023 and is projected to be worth USD 4.85 billion in 2024 and reach USD 7.51 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.61% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominated the retort packaging market with a market share of 32.03% in 2023.

A retort pouch is a type of food packaging made from a laminate of flexible plastic and metal foils. As the retort pouches offer sterile packaging of several food & beverage products, they are used as a substitute for traditional industrial canning methods, further driving the global retort packaging market growth. The rising utilization of retort pouches, trays, and cups in the food industry contributes to the global retort packaging market share.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the retort packaging industry globally. The growth in the pharmaceutical sector, coupled with the surged demand for sterilized packaging solutions in the industry, boosted the market growth. The increased demand for retort pouches in the food sector also aided the market growth.

Retort Packaging Market Trends

Augmenting Demand for Sustainable Packaging Solutions Emerges as a Key Market Trend

The growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions is emerging as a key market trend. The rising environmental concerns and the growing utilization of eco-friendly packaging products by significant manufacturers enhance the retort packaging market growth. The utilization of biodegradable & recyclable packaging material to reduce the plastic packaging threat to the environment also emerges as a market trend. For instance, mono-material pouches or PP and PET trays are more accessible for recycling, thus enhancing the huge demand. Consumers are seeking packaging products that are cost-effective yet eco-friendly, which in turn contributes to the market growth globally.

Retort Packaging Market Growth Factors

Rising Consumption of Packaged Food Products Drive Market Growth

The strong inclination among consumers toward the consumption of packaged food and the rising demand for ready-to-eat food items follow a concerning trend. This change is a result of different factors, including the hectic daily routine, urbanization, and shifts in eating habits. FDA-approved food retort packaging is well-known for its retorting capability that prolongs the food's shelf-life in the long term. It covers the demand very well. In today's food market, the ability to offer ease of purchase is crucial. Future consumers are becoming more and more aware and watching the industry. Manufacturers who ensure the retort packaging development for healthy products that are easy to use will stay competitive in the market. The rise in inclination toward such packaged food and the growing food industry thus drive the global retort packaging market growth.

Augmenting Demand for Portable & Convenient Packaging Solutions by Food Sector Drives Market Growth

Consumers are after convenient and portable packaging solutions, which offer the industry an excellent opportunity to benefit a lot. Retort pouches are easy to pack and are lightweight. Thus, they are perfect for food products, baby, and pet food products. Such routes enable transportation and shipment cost reduction. The retort bags and pouches are gaining huge traction as they take up less space in storage when empty; it eliminates the fee to store them. They may be transparent when looking at what is contained inside. The massively growing demand for portable, easy, and convenient packaging solutions that safeguard food products and eliminate food wastage contributes to the global market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Upfront Costs and Additional Protection Required Majorly Hampers Market Growth

Despite the potential benefits of retort pouches, some factors are limiting the market growth. The high initial machinery costs coupled with the process complexity are the major factors hampering the market growth. Manufacturing of retort pouches requires highly specialized filling, thermal treatment, and tensile strength testing equipment. These machines are also expensive to purchase & costly to maintain. Moreover, they need to provide extra protection during shipping. Such high upfront costs and additional protection for the packaging limit the market growth. Moreover, the stringent rules and specifications for items that touch with food, labeling specifications, and recycling directives also restrict the market growth.

Retort Packaging Market Segmentation Analysis

By Material Analysis

Noteworthy Benefits Offered by the Plastic Material Boosts the Segment’s Growth

Based on material, the market is segmented into plastics, aluminum, and others.

Plastics is the dominating material segment and is projected to grow during the forecast period. The material offers an excellent sealing layer, flexibility & strength to the retort bags, trays, and pouches. The material is also tough and robust plastic, which boosts in retaining the freshness of several food items, due to which it is majorly used in manufacturing retort bags and pouches. The key properties of the material, such as abrasion resistance, heat stabilization, dimensional stability, high stiffness, and puncture resistance, also contribute to the segmental growth.

Aluminum is the second-dominating material and is estimated to witness an excellent growth rate during the forecast period. It is lightweight and easy to carry, which makes them an ideal solution for on-the-go consumption. Moreover, the pouches manufactured with aluminum offer easy storage and transportation, thus boosting their adoption in several end-use industries.

By Product Type Analysis

Rising Utilization of Bags & Pouches in the Food & Beverages Sector Drives the Segmental Growth

Based on product type, the market is segmented into bags & pouches, cups, trays & cups, and others.

Bags & pouches is the leading product type segment and is estimated to witness substantial growth over the coming years. The massively growing demand for cost-effective packaging solutions that extend the shelf-life of food products, such as meat, pet food, fish, baby food, and others, contribute to the growth of the retort bags & pouches segment. In addition, the augmenting demand for retort bags and pouches owing to their essential properties, such as lightweight, convenience, and portability, also enhances segmental growth globally.

Cups are the second-leading product type segment. The retort cups are high-barrier products that offer exceptional shelf-life performance. In addition to superior barrier protection, the retort cups also deliver freshness to the food products, further driving its demand in the food industry.

By End-Use Analysis

Rising Utilization of Retort Pouches Among the Food Industry Aids the Segmental Growth

Based on end-use, the market is segmented into food, beverages, and others.

Food is the dominating end-use segment and is estimated to grow in the upcoming years. Retort bags and pouches are considered to be one of the most convenient packaging solutions for food products such as dairy, meat, seafood, yogurt, and ready-to-eat meal products. The rapid rise in increasing consumption of baked food is also influencing the growth of this market. The retort pouches offer longer shelf life than metal can, owing to which they are gaining massive traction in the food industry. The rising utilization of pouches and bags for pet food and baby food products globally is majorly contributing to segmental growth.

Beverages are the second-dominating end-use segment. The segment will experience steady growth in the forthcoming years. The retort pouches are essential in retaining maximum nutritional value, aroma, taste, and flavor at the time of consumption, thus boosting segmental growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Asia Pacific is the dominant region of the global retort packaging market. The rapid rise in the demand for cost-effective packaging solutions, coupled with the changing consumer lifestyles and growing demand for packaged foods, including ready to eat meals, drives the Asia Pacific retort packaging market. Furthermore, the growing on-the-go and ready-to-eat meals trend in major countries such as China, Japan, and India, and the rising disposable incomes in the region also drive the market growth.

North America is the second-dominating region of the global market. Rapidly growing utilization of retort trays, containers, and pouches due to their key features such as lightweight, portability, & reduced material usage enhances the market growth in North America. The growing food and beverage sector in the U.S. also aids regional development.

Europe is the third dominating region. The rapidly rising demand for sustainable & aesthetic packaging solutions and the increasing demand for intelligent packaging to avoid food wastage drive the market growth in the European region.

Latin America retort packaging will experience moderate growth during the forecast period due to the growing food and beverage industry in the region.

The Middle East & African region will witness steady growth due to the rising demand for retort pouches in the region.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Market Players to Have Significant Growth Opportunities with New Product Launches

The global retort packaging market is highly fragmented and competitive. The key players in the market are providing the packaging industry with innovative packaging solutions. These major players in the market are continuously focusing to expand their customer base across regions by adding innovation to their existing product range.

The key players in the market include Amcor, Sealed Air, Coveris, Mondi, Huhtamaki Oyj, Sonoco Products Company, and others. The other key companies operating in the market are concentrating on the market scenarios and offering advanced packaging solutions.

List of Top Retort Packaging Companies:

• Amcor (Switzerland)


• Sealed Air (U.S.)


• Coveris (Austria)


• Mondi (U.K.)


• Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland)


• Sonoco Products Company (U.S.)


• Constantia Flexibles (Austria)


• ProAmpac (U.S.)


• Flair Flexible Packaging Corporation (Canada)


• Winpak Ltd. (Canada)


• Logos Packaging (China)


• DNP America (U.S.)


• HPM Global Inc. (South Korea)


• Printpack (U.S.)


• Tetra Pak (Switzerland)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• April 2023 – Huhtamaki launched sustainable and flexible packaging innovation. The game-changing technology provides a unique combination of best-in-class protection, complete recyclability, and affordability. The blue loop innovations are both unique to Huhtamaki and transformational. They simultaneously deliver recyclability without compromising in product protection and affordability.


• July 2022 – Mondi declared plans to invest nearly EUR 65 million in three Consumer Flexibles packaging plants located in Europe. The investment majorly focuses on the aim of increasing production capacity & meeting customer demand for sustainable pet food packaging solutions.


• December 2021 – Mars Petcare deployed food-safe recycled plastic in wet pet food packaging as part of its worldwide commitment to boost recycled content in its plastic packaging. The company processed recycled polymers into e-quality, easy-tear films for wet retort packaging at an industrial scale.


• October 2021 –  Mondi launched retort pouch recyclable mono-material packaging. The fully recyclable mono-material retort packaging solution is designed to replace multi-layer and unrecyclable packaging while protecting the product and minimizing food waste.


• October 2020 –  Amcor and Nestlé declared the launch of the world’s first recyclable flexible retort pouch with the Purina wet cat food brand in the Netherlands. The breakthrough in recyclable packaging enhances the environmental footprint by up to 60%.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market research report provides a detailed market analysis and focuses on key aspects, such as top market players, competitive landscape, product/service types, market segmentation, porter’s five forces analysis, and leading segments of the product. Besides, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the abovementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the market intelligence & growth in recent years.

REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION