Market Trends of GCC Corrugated Box Packaging Industry
Processed Food Segment to Significantly Support Growth
- Corrugated boxes can be designed to minimize space in packaging, reducing the risk of product movement and damage during transit. This extends shelf life and plays a pivotal role in curbing food waste. Additionally, when the corrugated board is food-safe for direct contact, it diminishes the necessity for additional inner packaging, supporting the market’s growth.
- The corrugated box packaging market in GCC is characterized by strong applications in the food industry. Consumers tend to look for cost-effective, sustainable, lightweight, reusable, recyclable, and convenient products, driving the demand for corrugated packaging in food products. The rising demand for packaging foods in portable and convenient formats has helped drive the use of packaging products across various industries. Recyclability and decomposability make corrugated packaging more sustainable than other materials, which is expected to support its adoption in the future.
- Furthermore, the food industry in the United Arab Emirates has experienced a significant upswing, primarily propelled by a rising appetite for retail and processed foods in key urban centers such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. This demand surge is due to lifestyle changes and a growing emphasis on health. Given its constrained agricultural production, the United Arab Emirates leans heavily on imports, sourcing over 80% of its food requirements internationally.
- However, in January 2024, prices for locally produced container boards rose in the GCC countries. The Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO) announced a price hike of USD 70 per ton in January 2024, which is expected to impact the growth of corrugated packaging in the processed food segments in the region.
- The retail sales of food items have been increasing significantly in the GCC region, which is expected to support the growth of the market by creating a demand for corrugated boxes used for the packaging of processed foods in the coming years. It further enhances waste reduction efforts and supports the market’s growth in food packaging.
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Saudi Arabia to Occupy Significant Market Share
- Saudi Arabia is one of the GCC region's leading markets in the packaging industry. The country has a notable consumer base and a wide range of industrial activities (apart from the oil and gas sector) that are in line with the country's Vision 2030 objective, adding to the rapid demand for paper and paperboard packaging. The growing demand for customer-friendly packages and heightened product protection is expected to boost corrugated packaging as a viable and cost-effective solution in Saudi Arabia.
- The country has been supporting the manufacturing of corrugated packaging solutions, which indicates the demand for them in the future. For instance, in March 2024, the construction of Saudi Arabia's mega factory to produce corrugated pallets entered its final stages. The factory is expected to increase the country’s capacity to produce up to 10 million pallets annually.
- The mega factory aims to meet the high demand for innovative and sustainable pallet solutions in the GCC region. Spanning 86,000 square meters, this facility would transform the pallet industry with advanced technology and significantly reduce global logistics costs and carbon emissions, which shows the advantage of corrugated packaging solutions in environmental sustainability.
- Furthermore, in January 2024, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, announced its investment in the Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO). MEPCO is a Middle Eastern manufacturer that focuses on paper-based products and recycling. PIF's backing would fuel MEPCO's production expansion, enhance operational efficiency, and bolster its commitment to environmental sustainability. This would align with the sustainability objectives of both Saudi Arabia and PIF, which is expected to support the growth of the market studied in the future.
- The youth unemployment rate in the country has been decreasing in line with non-oil-based economic development in Saudi Arabia, which is anticipated to fuel the demand for packaged goods in the country and create growth opportunities for corrugated box packaging solutions during the forecast period.
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