Plastic Containers Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and Others), By Container Type (Bottles & Jars, Pails, Tubs, Cups & Bowls, and Others), By End-use (Beverages, Food, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics, FMCG, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global plastic containers market size was valued at USD 207.35 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 218.04 billion in 2024 to USD 344.79 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominated the plastic containers market with a market share of 47.03% in 2023.

Plastic containers are made of plastic resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and high-density & low-density polyethylene. They are mostly used for packaging and available in different forms, such as bottles, jars, bowls, and pails. These containers are mainly utilized in packaging food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Plastic-based containers are becoming increasingly ideal for packaging food products due to their durability, lightweight nature, non-permeability to moisture, and protection from sunlight. Rising demand for rigid packaging from food and beverage manufacturers to increase the shelf-life of their products and enhance the aesthetics to attract consumers will positively influence the market. The preference for containers is rising among food manufacturers due to their visual appeal to customers and the convenience of manufacturing them.

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted the production capabilities of the market players due to lack of labor and disruptions in the supply chains. This resulted in low demand for these containers. In the wake of the outbreak, the consumer goods industry experienced a negative impact due to its primary focus on personal protective equipment. Consumer goods companies had to bear the brunt of late deliveries and out-of-stock products. The pricing also increased from 5% to 10% as brands were trying to find new vendors for bottles. However, many countries took steps to improve the pharmaceutical industry’s growth, and governments released recommendations for citizens to enhance their immunity by consuming supplements. This acted as a promising opportunity for supplement and drug container manufacturers.

Plastic Containers Market Trends

Adoption of Recycled Plastics and Bioplastics in Packaging Industry to Lead Market Growth

The packaging industry plays a crucial role in various sectors of the economy, ranging from food & beverage to pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and beyond, which has propelled the market at a considerable rate. Plastic plays a key role in the packaging industry due to its versatile properties and widespread applicability. Due to plastic’s wide array of exceptional properties, the packaging sector has emerged as a leading consumer, accounting for around one-third of the global plastic consumption. However, the humongous demand for plastics led to problems with plastic waste dumping as conventional plastics are practically non-biodegradable. Therefore, several plastic container companies, such as Bio Futura, Fkur, Fidel Fillaud, and others have shifted their focus to more sustainable solutions, including recycled plastics and bioplastics. The demand for sustainable packaging products using bioplastics has been on the rise for the past decade and is expected to gain further impetus. In addition, the increasing consumer preference for environmentally friendly packaging products will fuel the global plastic containers market growth during the forecast period.

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Plastic Containers Market Growth Factors

Increasing Use of Rigid Plastic Containers in Food and Beverage Packaging to Fuel Market Growth

Demand for rigid plastic containers is increasing in the food and beverage industries due to their durability and lightweight properties. These properties ensure the food's safety and longer shelf life and protect it from moisture, light, and chemicals. They also ensure that the foods and beverages are safely stored and transported to different places. The changing lifestyle and increasing consumer spending on packaged goods will increase the rigid container demand in the food and beverage industries.

Growing Pharmaceuticals Industry to Drive Product Demand from Medicine Packaging Manufacturers

Earlier in the pharmaceutical industry, glass containers were majorly utilized for the packaging of drugs and medicines. However, since the past decade, the adoption of plastic has significantly increased in the industry as it is more cost-effective, easy to use, resistant to leakage, and lightweight compared to glass products. The highly preferred materials for making pharmaceutical containers are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Furthermore, plastic-based containers are chemically inert and resistant to corrosion, which protects the drugs and medicines and increases their shelf-life. Hence, the rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry will fuel the product demand during the forecast period.

Rising Demand from FMCG Industry to Drive Market Growth

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are products that are sold quickly at relatively low cost. The FMCG industry has high-volume sales of several products catering to consumer needs with quick inventory turnover. The sales of FMCG products are witnessing rapid growth in the developing economies of the world owing to rising consumer expenditure. The price contribution by the packaging container and its physical and chemical properties play an important role in the packaging and total production cost of several products in the FMCG industry. For instance, using glass containers for the packaging of baby products is generally avoided to prevent its breakage. Therefore, plastic containers play an important role in the packaging of these products, which have the potential to react with the material of the containers holding it. FMCG industry-dominating products, including detergents, toiletries, cosmetics, and tooth cleaning products, are preferably packaged in plastic containers. Therefore, the demand for these containers is anticipated to rise significantly during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for FMCG products.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Stringent Environmental Regulations for Using Plastic to Restrict Product Adoption

The decomposition of plastic is slower than the amount of this  material produced per year. The recycling process of plastics is also a lengthy procedure that includes selling, shipping, melting, and resolving & shipping again. Furthermore, the chemicals found in conventional plastics, such as bisphenol-A, phthalates, and polystyrene are hazardous and can create toxic industrial waste. These factors impact the environmental conditions due to which stringent regulations are placed by various governments and regulatory bodies to minimize the use of plastics, which is anticipated to restrict the market growth.

Plastic Containers Market Segmentation Analysis

By Material Analysis

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) to Dominate Market Due to its High Preference Among Packaging Consumers

Based on material, the market is segmented into Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and others. The PET segment is anticipated to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period. PET is a lightweight and durable plastic resin and closely similar to glass in terms of transparency. It is preferred for packaging food products and beverages as it offers protection against water vapors, gases, oils, alcohols, and diluted acids.

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a sturdy, rigid, and durable resin. This material offers good stress or crack resistance and high melt strength. The use of this resin in a mildly stiff and impact-resistant bottle offers an excellent moisture barrier. The containers made from this material are mainly used in personal care, beverage, food, and chemical industries driving its demand moderately during the forecast period.

The growth of the polypropylene segment is attributed to its rising adoption among container manufacturers for pharmaceutical and consumer applications. The properties of polypropylene, including superior working temperature and high tensile strength will drive the growth of this segment. The rising demand for LDPE containers that are squeezable and highly durable from pharmaceutical and personal care & cosmetics industries will augment the segment growth.

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By Container Type Analysis

Bottle & Jar Segment Dominates Market Owing to its Increasing Adoption in End-use Industries

In terms of container type, the market is segmented into bottles & jars, pails, tubs, cups & bowls, and others. The bottles & jars segment is leading the market’s growth and is the fastest-growing container type. The demand for bottles & jars is increasing due to their use for packaging in pharmaceuticals, food, and beverage industries. Plastic bottles & jars are cost-effective, leakage-free, and lightweight. Hence, they are considered the best substitutes for metal and glass bottles & jars. Therefore, the increasing demand for bottles & jars from various industries will boost the growth of the segment.

Pails are made up of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene. The demand for plastic pails is rising due to their excellent properties, such as lightweight nature, chemical resistance, water resistance, and leakage-free features. These properties are expected to surge the demand for plastic pails in the chemical and paint industries. The use of tubs, cups, and bowls for packing food products, such as cheese, butter, yogurt, and other single-use products will drive the segment’s growth significantly in the forecast period.

By End-use Analysis

Beverage Industry Dominates Market Due to Higher Adoption of Plastic Containers to Pack Drinks Safely

Based on end-user, the market is classified into beverages, food, pharmaceuticals & cosmetics, FMCG, and others. The beverages segment is the leading end-use segment in the market. In this segment, containers, such as bottles & jars are widely used. These containers ensure safety and longer shelf-life, protecting the drinks from leakage, moisture, and chemicals. The increasing demand for ready-to-drink beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, juices, and milk-based drinks has fueled the sales of plastic bottles around the globe. Hence, the growth in the beverage industry will lead to the high demand for the product.

The key plastic resins used in the pharmaceuticals & cosmetics industry are polyethylene and polypropylene. These resins are used to manufacture bottles, jars, and tubes. These containers are chemically inert and resistant to corrosion, which helps protect skincare and medicine products from chemicals and moisture, and avoids leakage. Hence, growth of the pharmaceuticals & cosmetics industry will increase the demand for these containers at a steady rate till 2032.

The growth of the food segment is associated with the rising demand for convenience/packaged foods owing to busy work-life and change in lifestyle choices. Furthermore, increasing use of FMCG products by consumers will significantly fuel the demand for plastic-based containers during the forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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

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Asia Pacific recorded the highest revenue of USD 97.51 billion in 2023, in which China and India are the leading contributors. The market’s growth in this region is attributed to the growing beverage industry, which will further increase the demand for plastic bottles to store bottled water and carbonated drinks. The bottles used for storing beverages are primarily made up of polyethylene terephthalate. Hence, rising consumer spending on carbonated beverages will drive this region's plastic containers market share.

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In North America, the U.S. is the leading contributor due to the growing food & pharmaceutical industry. In the food industry, rigid plastic bottles & jars are majorly used to protect foods and beverages from leakage. In comparison, these products are mostly used in the pharmaceutical industry due to their lightweight nature and durability.

In Europe, the market is driven by the growing FMCG and automotive industries. Many FMCG products, such as detergents, cleaners, and other products are available in liquid forms and major premium car manufacturers are also present in the region. Therefore, the demand for automotive fluids is quite high. This factor is increasing the demand for plastic-based containers to pack automotive lubricants, oils, coolants, and other fluids.

The growth of the market in Latin America is associated with the beverage industry's growth. For example, the Brazilian beer market is the third largest across the globe, and the acquisition of Brasil Krin by Heineken has significantly surged the product demand in Brazil.

The Middle East & Africa is the second-fastest-growing region in the market. The growth is associated with the expansion of the region’s food & beverage industry. Due to the scarcity of water in these regions, consumers rely on packaged mineral water for their day-to-day needs. Hence, the demand for such containers will grow at a significant rate.

Key Industry Players

Diverse Portfolio and Core Focus on Innovation to Help ALPLA Dominate Market

The competitive landscape depicts a fragmented market in which ALPLA is a leading player. Diversified product portfolio and constant innovations by the company to produce new plastic products are prominent factors responsible for the company's leading position in the market.

Alpha Packaging, Amcor, Plastipak Packaging, and Consolidated Container Company are other key players in the market. The presence of these companies is projected to positively impact the global market as they are anticipated to gain major market shares during the forecast period. The ALPLA Group is investing in extrusion systems for food-grade recycled PET made from used PET bottles site in Italy. The company is installing an extrusion system for 15 KT of rPET a year on the premises.

List of Top Plastic Containers Companies:

• ALPLA (Austria)


• Pretium Packaging (U.S.)


• Amcor (Switzerland)


• Plastipak Holdings, Inc. (U.S.)


• Graham Packaging Company (U.S.)


• Berry Global Inc. (U.S.)


• Greiner Packaging (Austria)


• Shanghai Zijiang Enterprise Group Co., Ltd (China)


• Visy Industries (Australia)


• Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Co., Ltd (China)


• Polycon Industries, Inc. (U.S.)


• KW Plastics (U.S.)


• Silgan Holdings, Inc. (U.S.)


• CKS Packaging, Inc. (U.S.)


• Altium Packaging (U.S.)


• Polytainers, Inc. (Canada)


• Airlite Plastics Co. (U.S.)


• Reynolds Consumer Products (U.S.)


• Consolidated Container Company (U.S.)


• Fortex Fortiflex (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• February 2024: Amcor collaborated with Stonyfield Organic, the country's leading organic yogurt maker, and Cheer Pack North America, a leading manufacturer of spouted pouch packaging, to launch the first all-polyethylene (PE) spouted pouch. This collaboration brings together three market leaders to create a first-to-market solution that offers a more sustainable packaging option without compromising on performance.


• January 2024: The ALPLA Group, announced the acquisition of Puerto Rico-based packaging specialist Fortiflex. The acquisition of Fortiflex is anticipated to help the company strengthen its industrial division for large volume packaging solutions and expand its product line.


• August 2023: Amcor announced its agreement to acquire Phoenix Flexibles, which will expand Amcor’s capacity in the rapidly growing Indian market. Currently, Amcor operates four flexible packaging plants in India, while Phoenix Flexibles runs a plant in Gujarat, India. The business generates an annual revenue of approximately USD 20 million from the sale of flexible packaging for food, home care, and personal care applications.


• May 2023: LanzaTech Global, Inc. and Plastipak Packaging, Inc. successfully produced PPK Natura, the world's first PET resin made from captured carbon emissions. This resin can be used for various packaging and non-packaging applications.


• August 2022: Altium Packaging acquired Plastic Industries and Andersen Plastics to expand its manufacturing and sales capability across North America. It also expanded its product offerings to meet the growing demand from various industries including pharmaceuticals, dairy, household chemicals, food/nutraceuticals, and industrial/specialty chemicals.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects, such as leading companies, product types, and top applications of the product. Besides this, it offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

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Report Scope & Segmentation