Europe Rigid Bulk Packaging Market Size (2024 - 2029)

Europe Rigid Bulk Packaging Market Analysis

The Europe Rigid Bulk Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 29.64 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 33.17 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.27% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

• In Europe, rigid bulk packaging is in high demand due to the growing demand for shipping containers, which are used for transporting raw materials and finished goods such as metal, minerals, oil & gas, chemicals, machinery, cars, aircraft components, etc. According to the PortEconomics report, Rotterdam Port handled around 14.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2022, making it the European Union's largest container port. The second-largest container port in the EU was Antwerp-Brussels, handling about 13.5 TEUs million.
• Rigid bulk packaging also provides a higher level of shipment safety compared to flexible bulk. Currently, the manufacturers are also adopting rigid bulk packaging to reduce emissions from transportation as a larger volume can be shipped at the same time, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. The European Union has set ambitious long-term environmental and climate change objectives. Thereby, the businesses are gravitating majorly towards the rigid bulk packaging in the region.
• The rapid urbanization and industrialization are further expected to stimulate the manufacturing and construction industries especially in several developing economies which is further expected to increase the production of various chemicals thereby benefiting the rigid bulk packaging market growth. In addition, trade agreements between several nations across the globe are expected to increase the imports and exports between these countries thereby favoring the market growth.
• Growing industries such as chemicals, construction, and the food and beverage industry are expected to recover in a V-shape from the crisis. As per the American Chemistry Council, the chemicals production growth in Europe was anticipated to drop to a negative 2.2% during 2020; however, during 2021, it recovered and witnessed a growth of 3.1% in 2021 to a stable 1.6% growth in 2022. This growth is expected in the forecast period, consequently attributing to the demand for rigid bulk drums and IBCs for chemicals.
• However, the market for rigid bulk packaging in Europe is expected to face the challenge of changing raw material prices over the next few years. The raw materials that are commonly used in rigid bulk packaging are plastic, paper board, and steel material. T
• The raw material prices are one of the most important factors that influence the price of the final products. Therefore, raw material price fluctuations are a major issue for vendors in Europe.
• In November 2022, the European Commission incorporated a proposal for Packaging Waste Regulation (Proposal). Under the proposal, all packaging would be required to be recycled. This applies to pallets and bulk boxes, plastic crates and intermediate bulk containers (excluding cardboard trays), drums, and canisters (all sizes and materials). Therefore, in Europe, bulk packaging manufacturers are increasing the use of eco-friendly recycled material.

Europe Rigid Bulk Packaging Industry Segmentation

Rigid bulk packaging is a high-strength packaging solution mainly used in packaging products that are sensitive and perishable. The global market for rigid bulk packaging is expected to grow due to the increasing demand from the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food & beverages industries. The demand for reusable bulk packaging is also increasing due to the cost-effectiveness of reusable bulk containers compared to smaller containers.

The Europe rigid bulk packaging market is segmented by material (plastic, metal, wood, and other materials), by product (industrial bulk containers, drums, pails, bulk boxes, and other bulk containers), and by end-user industry (food, beverage, industrial, pharmaceutical and chemical, other end-user industries), and by country (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value USD for all the above segments.