Corrugated Packaging Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 189.83 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 228.64 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 3.79 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Corrugated Packaging Market Analysis
The Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 189.83 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 228.64 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.79% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Corrugated boards are made of pulp and paper; therefore, they are extremely recyclable compared to plastic packaging. The corrugated board's fluting medium serves as a shock absorber, shielding packaged items from external impact. These containers can bear high pressure, and the flutes' varied layers and thicknesses offer advantages, including cushioning to safeguard packaged goods.
- The e-commerce industry emerged as a significant end-user industry in recent years. Prominent e-commerce companies, such as Amazon, have been using corrugated board boxes for principal packaging, and they rely on plastic packaging for individual items.
- E-commerce is expected to continue to gain traction, even in countries where online shopping is already popular. According to Morgan Stanley, In South Korea, due to well-developed payments and logistics infrastructure, online sales account for 37% of all retail activity. However, the growth is expected to continue further. E-commerce in South Korea is anticipated to increase by 45% in the next five years, driven by same-day delivery and food delivery options. Morgan Stanley estimates suggest that e-commerce could grow from USD 3.3 trillion as of June 2022 to USD 5.4 trillion in 2026.
- The corrugated board is highly versatile. Thus, it can take various forms including box. Due to sustainability issues, it is slowly replacing flexible plastic bags. Moreover, corrugated boxes are a perfect base for several printing techniques. Thus, companies tend to prefer corrugated packaging as a marketing tool. They also act as mobile billboards, where the companies do not have to spend additionally on marketing.
- The demand for convenience foods is rising due to people's busy lifestyles. As corrugated board packaging keeps moisture away and withstands long shipping times, companies are increasingly adopting this packaging type to offer better outcomes to customers. Processed foods, such as bread, meat products, and other perishable items, need these packaging materials to be used just once, thus driving the demand.
- The growth in food packaging and ever-increasing demand for corrugated packages in growing e-commerce shipments are some of the primary drivers of the studied market resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. In e-commerce portals, demand has sharply increased for grocery packaging, healthcare products, and e-commerce shipments. At the same time, the need for luxury, industrial, and some B2B-transport packaging has declined.
Corrugated Packaging Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Corrugated Board Packaging Market according to our research experts:
Processed Food Segment Expected to Occupy Significant Market Share
- The demand for convenience foods is rising due to people's busy lifestyles. Hence, processed food, which takes less time to cook, attracts many consumers. The increasing population also drives the demand for processed food, which is convenient.
- As corrugated board packaging keeps moisture away from products and can withstand long shipping times, companies are increasingly adopting this packaging to offer better customer outcomes, especially for secondary or tertiary packaging. Processed foods, such as bread, meat products, and other perishable items, need these packaging materials to be used just once, thus driving the demand.
- Corrugated board packaging is becoming a viable alternative to plastic packaging for many different food products. Corrugated box packaging can be created more simply from recycled materials and recycled or composted.
- Consumers, particularly millennials, are becoming more aware of the impact of food packaging, food production, and food waste on the environment. According to a Stora Enso survey, 59% of millennials think that packaging should be sustainable throughout the value chain. Demand for sustainable packaging products is a key driver in processed food packaging positively impacting corrugated board packaging market growth.
- According to the Ministry of Economy, and Industry of Japan, volume consumption of corrugated cardboard boxes for processed food and beverages has been steadily rising. In 2017, the consumption volume was 3.93 billion square meters for processed food and beverages which increased to 4.14 billion square meters in 2021 in Japan.
China is Expected to Hold Significant Share in Asia Pacific
- The Chinese corrugated board packaging sector is heavily influenced by the rising per capita income, changing social atmosphere, and demographics. As a result of this shift, new packaging materials, processes, and forms are required. Over the forecast period, growing e-commerce companies such as Alibaba are expected to fuel the corrugated packaging market.
- For example, Chinese shoppers purchased a total of CNY 540.3 billion (nearly USD 84.54 billion) value merchandise during Alibaba's Double 11 shopping event in 2021. In addition, according to the e-commerce vendors like Alibaba and JD.com, Chinese shoppers spent USD 139 billion during the Single's day festival, thus raising the inventory and storage of various goods and driving the demand for corrugated packaging.
- The growing urban population, developing e-commerce package industry, declining pulp prices, and improving population awareness about eco-friendly packaging are expected to propel China's corrugated board packaging market. Increased containerboard capacity and technological breakthroughs are among the industry's key trends and developments. However, some obstacles, such as tight rules and product quality, can stifle market expansion.
- Industries, including food and beverage, IT electronics, and home appliances, which have a huge demand for corrugated boxes, are currently witnessing a trend of consumption upgrading in China. The trend of upgrading packaging in leading end-user industries is expected to lead to continued growth in the market size of mid to high-end corrugated cartons.
- Further, factors that are contributing to the acceleration of the corrugated packaging market in the country are the growing environmental awareness by the urban population, demand for sustainable packaging, increasing demand for convenient packaging, growth in e-commerce activity, and rising demand for electronic goods and home and personal care products.
Corrugated Packaging Industry Overview
The market for corrugated board packaging is fragmented, with many players providing corrugated board packaging solutions. Companies are constantly innovating to promote sustainable packaging and provide eco-friendly packaging products. Companies are launching corrugated box designs for various end-user industries to leverage the opportunities. The market is also witnessing multiple partnerships and acquisitions by market players to strengthen their portfolios in the corrugated board packaging segment.
- May 2022 - Mondi announced to invest EUR 280 million to increase the production of corrugated board and cardboard. This investment will help to expand capacity and increase efficiency in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Turkey. Of this investment figure, EUR 185 million will go to the company's network of Corrugated Solutions plants in Central and Eastern Europe.
- April 2022 - DS Smith, a UK-based sustainable packaging provider, developed and launched a corrugated cardboard box for e-commerce shipments of medical devices. This new corrugated cardboard box features a single-material solution in place of glued packaging with a single-use plastic insert.
Corrugated Packaging Market Leaders
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International Paper Company
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Mondi Group
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DS Smith PLC
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WestRock Company
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Smurfit Kappa Group
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Corrugated Packaging Market News
- July 2022 - WestRock Co., a US-based containerboard and packaging manufacturer, announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining interest in Grupo Gondi for USD 970 million, plus the assumption of debt. According to the WestRock, upon completion of the transaction, the company would further enhance its position in the growing Latin American containerboard and consumer and corrugated packaging markets, as Grupo Gondi operates nine corrugated packaging plants, four paper mills, and six high graphic plants throughout Mexico.
- February 2022 - Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, announced the signing of an agreement to acquire the assets of Color-Box, a business unit of Georgia-Pacific, LLC. The acquisition is expected to complete in early summer 2022. Like Menasha Packaging, Color-Box is a corrugated packaging manufacturer that specializes in high-graphic boxes, which will help expand the company's geographic footprint and provide additional graphics, design, and structural packaging options for Menasha's customers.
Corrugated Packaging Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET INSIGHTS
- 4.1 Market Overview
- 4.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis
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4.3 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.3.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.3.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
- 4.3.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.3.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
- 4.4 Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Market
5. MARKET DYNAMICS
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5.1 Market Drivers
- 5.1.1 Growing Adoption of Lightweight Materials and Evolution of Digital Print for Corrugated Boards
- 5.1.2 Strong Demand from the E-commerce Sector
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5.2 Market Challenges
- 5.2.1 Increasing Usage of Returnable and Reusable Packaging
6. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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6.1 By End-user Industry
- 6.1.1 Processed Foods
- 6.1.2 Fresh Food and Produce
- 6.1.3 Beverages
- 6.1.4 Personal and Household Care
- 6.1.5 E-commerce
- 6.1.6 Other End-user Industries (Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Industrial, Textile, Glass & Ceramics)
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6.2 By Geography
- 6.2.1 North America
- 6.2.1.1 United States
- 6.2.1.2 Canada
- 6.2.2 Europe
- 6.2.2.1 United Kingdom
- 6.2.2.2 Germany
- 6.2.2.3 France
- 6.2.2.4 Italy
- 6.2.2.5 Spain
- 6.2.2.6 Poland
- 6.2.2.7 Rest of Europe
- 6.2.3 Asia-Pacific
- 6.2.3.1 China
- 6.2.3.2 India
- 6.2.3.3 Japan
- 6.2.3.4 South Korea
- 6.2.3.5 Indonesia
- 6.2.3.6 Thailand
- 6.2.3.7 Australia
- 6.2.3.8 Malaysia
- 6.2.3.9 Rest of Asia-Pacific
- 6.2.4 Latin America
- 6.2.4.1 Brazil
- 6.2.4.2 Argentina
- 6.2.4.3 Mexico
- 6.2.4.4 Rest of Latin America
- 6.2.5 Middle-East and Africa
- 6.2.5.1 Saudi Arabia
- 6.2.5.2 South Africa
- 6.2.5.3 United Arab Emirates
- 6.2.5.4 Rest of Middle-East and Africa
7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
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7.1 Company Profiles
- 7.1.1 International Paper Company
- 7.1.2 Mondi Group
- 7.1.3 DS Smith PLC
- 7.1.4 WestRock Company
- 7.1.5 Smurfit Kappa Group
- 7.1.6 Stora Enso Oyj
- 7.1.7 Sealed Air Corporation
- 7.1.8 Neway Packaging
- 7.1.9 Wertheimer Box Corp.
- 7.1.10 Georgia-Pacific LLC
- 7.1.11 Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Limited
- 7.1.12 Oji Holdings Corporation
- *List Not Exhaustive
8. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
9. FUTURE OF THE MARKET
** Subject To AvailablityCorrugated Packaging Industry Segmentation
Corrugated board packaging offers a versatile and cost-efficient method to protect, preserve, and transport various products. The scope considers revenue from all types of packaging applications such as primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging using corrugated boxes. The corrugated board's attributes, such as lightweight, biodegradability, and recyclability, have made it an integral component in the packaging industry. This type of packaging is used across various end-user industries, such as processed foods, fresh food and produce, beverages, personal and household care, and e-commerce.
| By End-user Industry | Processed Foods | |
| Fresh Food and Produce | ||
| Beverages | ||
| Personal and Household Care | ||
| E-commerce | ||
| Other End-user Industries (Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Industrial, Textile, Glass & Ceramics) | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| By Geography | Europe | United Kingdom |
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Poland | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| By Geography | Asia-Pacific | China |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Indonesia | ||
| Thailand | ||
| Australia | ||
| Malaysia | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| By Geography | Latin America | Brazil |
| Argentina | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Rest of Latin America | ||
| By Geography | Middle-East and Africa | Saudi Arabia |
| South Africa | ||
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Rest of Middle-East and Africa |
Corrugated Packaging Market Research FAQs
How big is the Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
The Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 189.83 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 3.79% to reach USD 228.64 billion by 2029.
What is the current Corrugated Board Packaging Market size?
In 2024, the Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 189.83 billion.
Who are the key players in Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
International Paper Company, Mondi Group, DS Smith PLC, WestRock Company and Smurfit Kappa Group are the major companies operating in the Corrugated Board Packaging Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
In 2024, the Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Corrugated Board Packaging Market.
What years does this Corrugated Board Packaging Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Corrugated Board Packaging Market size was estimated at USD 182.90 billion. The report covers the Corrugated Board Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Corrugated Board Packaging Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What are the key drivers of the Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
Major factors driving the Corrugated Packaging Market are a) Rise in e-commerce b) Growing demand for eco-friendly packaging c) Increasing need for efficient logistics and warehousing solutions
Corrugated Packaging Industry Report
The global corrugated packaging industry is experiencing substantial growth, driven by increasing demand across various sectors and the surge in global e-commerce sales. This industry is essential in the retail sector, where robust packaging is necessary to protect products during transit due to the rise in online shopping. Additionally, the consumption of electronics and appliances, particularly in developed nations, has heightened the demand for corrugated packaging to protect sensitive items from shocks and external damage. The food and beverage industry also relies heavily on corrugated packaging to maintain food quality and safety over extended periods, while the medical sector appreciates its dust-free and sterile properties for transporting sensitive products.
Despite alternatives like bioplastics, the corrugated packaging industry thrives due to its eco-friendly nature, cost-effectiveness, and advanced printing capabilities. The Asia-Pacific region is seeing robust growth, driven by an expanding working population and a rising inclination towards fast foods and packaged products. For detailed statistics on market share, size, and revenue growth rate, along with a market forecast outlook and historical overview, download a free report PDF download from Mordor Intelligenceā¢ Industry Reports on the corrugated packaging industry.
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