


The global packaging and paper industry is estimated at US$1,299,427.4 million (about US$1.3 trillion) in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$1,670,906.2 million by 2031, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% over 2025-2031. Rigid plastic packaging is the largest of eight mutually exclusive product types at US$260,800.0 million (20.1% share) in 2025, followed by flexible packaging (18.6%), folding cartons (16.2%) and corrugated packaging (15.3%). Folding cartons are the fastest-growing type at 5.9% CAGR; graphic paper is the slowest at 1.3%. Asia Pacific is the largest region at 38.4% of 2025 value.
The report sizes corrugated packaging, folding cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastic packaging, glass packaging, metal packaging, tissue and hygiene paper and graphic paper. Physical volume is carried only for the four paper-based types (355.4 million tonnes in 2025); the other types are valued on revenue alone. Published third-party estimates differ materially by aggregator scope and no audited industry-wide sales series exists, so the totals are best estimates within a range, and the report states the evidence grade behind each figure.
Scope of the Global Packaging & Paper Industry Strategic Research Report
This report covers market value (US$ million) for 2022-2031, with 2025 as the base year and 2026-2031 as the forecast period, and paper-type volume (million tonnes). It analyses eight product types, six applications, five regions and country-level markets (27 named countries plus rest-of-region groups), and profiles 27 companies across paper, board, plastics, glass, metal and tissue packaging.
Segment by Type
Segment by Application
Key Companies Profiled
International Paper Company, Smurfit Westrock plc, Amcor plc, Berry Global Group, Inc., Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, Inc., Packaging Corporation of America, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Sealed Air Corporation, Huhtamaki Oyj, O-I Glass, Inc., Stora Enso Oyj, Sonoco Products Company, Mondi plc, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Silgan Holdings Inc., Verallia SA, Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., Essity AB, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, Sylvamo Corporation, SIG Group AG, Greif, Inc., Sappi Limited, Oji Holdings Corporation, Klabin S.A.
| 1. Executive Summary 1.1.1 Market Definition and Scale 1.1.2 Principal Growth Drivers 1.1.3 Segmentation Highlights 1.1.4 Regional and Country Dynamics 1.1.5 Competitive Structure and Key Corporate Developments 1.1.6 Principal Risks and Constraints 1.1.7 Outlook 2. Industry Overview & Forecast 2.1 Market Definition and Scope 2.2 Market Size and Historical Performance 2.3 Forecast and Growth Logic 2.4 Volume Analysis 2.4.1 Year-by-Year Volume Table 2.5 Value-Chain and Pricing Dynamics 3. Market Segmentation by Type 3.1 Overview of the Type Segmentation Framework 3.2 Volume Analysis 3.2.1 Global Volume Trend, 2022–2031 3.2.2 Corrugated Packaging 3.2.3 Folding Cartons 3.2.4 Flexible Packaging 3.2.5 Rigid Plastic Packaging 3.2.6 Glass Packaging 3.2.7 Metal Packaging 3.2.8 Tissue & Hygiene Paper 3.2.9 Graphic Paper 3.3 Comparative Mix Shift Analysis 4. Market Segmentation by Application 4.1 Overview of the Application Framework 4.1.1 Food Packaging 4.1.2 Beverage Packaging 4.1.3 Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Packaging 4.1.4 Personal Care and Household Packaging 4.1.5 E-commerce Industrial and Transit Packaging 4.1.6 Printing Publishing and Hygiene Paper 4.2 Comparative Analysis Across Application Segments 5. Regional Market Forecast 5.1 North America 5.1.1 Regional Overview 5.1.2 Key Growth Drivers 5.1.3 Regulatory & Infrastructure Landscape 5.1.4 Country-Level Analysis 5.1.5 Market Forecast 2025–2031 5.2 Europe 5.2.1 Regional Overview 5.2.2 Key Growth Drivers 5.2.3 Regulatory & Infrastructure Landscape 5.2.4 Country-Level Analysis 5.2.5 Market Forecast 2025–2031 5.3 Asia Pacific 5.3.1 Regional Overview 5.3.2 Key Growth Drivers 5.3.3 Regulatory & Infrastructure Landscape 5.3.4 Country-Level Analysis 5.3.5 Market Forecast 2025–2031 5.4 Latin America 5.4.1 Regional Overview 5.4.2 Key Growth Drivers 5.4.3 Regulatory & Infrastructure Landscape 5.4.4 Country-Level Analysis 5.4.5 Market Forecast 2025–2031 5.5 Middle East and Africa 5.5.1 Regional Overview 5.5.2 Key Growth Drivers 5.5.3 Regulatory & Infrastructure Landscape 5.5.4 Country-Level Analysis 5.5.5 Market Forecast 2025–2031 6. Country-Level Market Forecast 6.1 North America 6.1.1 United States 6.1.2 Canada 6.1.3 Mexico 6.1.4 Rest of North America 6.2 Europe 6.2.1 Germany 6.2.2 United Kingdom 6.2.3 France 6.2.4 Italy 6.2.5 Spain 6.2.6 Netherlands 6.2.7 Rest of Europe 6.3 Asia Pacific 6.3.1 China 6.3.2 Japan 6.3.3 India 6.3.4 South Korea 6.3.5 Indonesia 6.3.6 Australia 6.3.7 Vietnam 6.3.8 Thailand 6.3.9 Rest of Asia Pacific 6.4 Latin America 6.4.1 Brazil 6.4.2 Argentina 6.4.3 Colombia 6.4.4 Chile 6.4.5 Rest of Latin America 6.5 Middle East and Africa 6.5.1 Saudi Arabia 6.5.2 South Africa 6.5.3 Turkey 6.5.4 United Arab Emirates 6.5.5 Egypt 6.5.6 Nigeria 6.5.7 Rest of Middle East and Africa 7. Growth Drivers & Inhibitors 7.1 Strategic Context 7.2 Growth Drivers 7.2.1 E-Commerce Expansion and Structural Demand for Corrugated and Fibre-Based Transit Packaging 7.2.2 Global Volume Recovery in Paper and Paperboard Production 7.2.3 Food Packaging Demand as the Dominant and Resilient Application Driver 7.2.4 Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Packaging as a High-Value Growth Vector 7.2.5 Tissue and Hygiene Paper 7.2.6 Asia Pacific as the Dominant Regional Growth Engine 7.3 Growth Inhibitors 7.3.1 Structural Decline of Graphic Paper Demand 7.3.2 Price Pressure and Revenue Contraction Among Bellwether Operators 7.3.3 Tissue Segment Corporate Performance Weakness 7.3.4 Slow Growth in Metal and Glass Packaging Constrains Sub-Segment Value Creation 7.3.5 Data Uncertainty and Methodological Limitations on Market Sizing Confidence 7.4 Impact Assessment Summary 7.5 Integrated Assessment 8. Key Company Profiles 8.1 International Paper Company 8.1.1 Company Overview 8.1.2 Key Products & Segments 8.1.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.1.4 Business Strategy 8.1.5 SWOT Analysis 8.1.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.2 Smurfit Westrock plc 8.2.1 Company Overview 8.2.2 Key Products & Segments 8.2.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.2.4 Business Strategy 8.2.5 SWOT Analysis 8.2.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.3 Amcor plc 8.3.1 Company Overview 8.3.2 Key Products & Segments 8.3.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.3.4 Business Strategy 8.3.5 SWOT Analysis 8.3.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.4 Berry Global Group, Inc. 8.4.1 Company Overview 8.4.2 Key Products & Segments 8.4.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.4.4 Business Strategy 8.4.5 SWOT Analysis 8.4.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.5 Ball Corporation 8.5.1 Company Overview 8.5.2 Key Products & Segments 8.5.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.5.4 Business Strategy 8.5.5 SWOT Analysis 8.5.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.6 Crown Holdings, Inc. 8.6.1 Company Overview 8.6.2 Key Products & Segments 8.6.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.6.4 Business Strategy 8.6.5 SWOT Analysis 8.6.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.7 Packaging Corporation of America 8.7.1 Company Overview 8.7.2 Key Products & Segments 8.7.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.7.4 Business Strategy 8.7.5 SWOT Analysis 8.7.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.8 Graphic Packaging Holding Company 8.8.1 Company Overview 8.8.2 Key Products & Segments 8.8.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.8.4 Business Strategy 8.8.5 SWOT Analysis 8.8.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.9 Sealed Air Corporation 8.9.1 Company Overview 8.9.2 Key Products & Segments 8.9.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.9.4 Business Strategy 8.9.5 SWOT Analysis 8.9.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.10 Huhtamaki Oyj 8.10.1 Company Overview 8.10.2 Key Products & Segments 8.10.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.10.4 Business Strategy 8.10.5 SWOT Analysis 8.10.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.11 O-I Glass, Inc. 8.11.1 Company Overview 8.11.2 Key Products & Segments 8.11.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.11.4 Business Strategy 8.11.5 SWOT Analysis 8.11.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.12 Stora Enso Oyj 8.12.1 Company Overview 8.12.2 Key Products & Segments 8.12.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.12.4 Business Strategy 8.12.5 SWOT Analysis 8.12.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.13 Sonoco Products Company 8.13.1 Company Overview 8.13.2 Key Products & Segments 8.13.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.13.4 Business Strategy 8.13.5 SWOT Analysis 8.13.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.14 Mondi plc 8.14.1 Company Overview 8.14.2 Key Products & Segments 8.14.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.14.4 Business Strategy 8.14.5 SWOT Analysis 8.14.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.15 UPM-Kymmene Corporation 8.15.1 Company Overview 8.15.2 Key Products & Segments 8.15.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.15.4 Business Strategy 8.15.5 SWOT Analysis 8.15.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.16 Silgan Holdings Inc. 8.16.1 Company Overview 8.16.2 Key Products & Segments 8.16.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.16.4 Business Strategy 8.16.5 SWOT Analysis 8.16.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.17 Verallia SA 8.17.1 Company Overview 8.17.2 Key Products & Segments 8.17.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.17.4 Business Strategy 8.17.5 SWOT Analysis 8.17.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.18 Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. 8.18.1 Company Overview 8.18.2 Key Products & Segments 8.18.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.18.4 Business Strategy 8.18.5 SWOT Analysis 8.18.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.19 Essity AB 8.19.1 Company Overview 8.19.2 Key Products & Segments 8.19.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.19.4 Business Strategy 8.19.5 SWOT Analysis 8.19.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.20 Kimberly-Clark Corporation 8.20.1 Company Overview 8.20.2 Key Products & Segments 8.20.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.20.4 Business Strategy 8.20.5 SWOT Analysis 8.20.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.21 Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited 8.21.1 Company Overview 8.21.2 Key Products & Segments 8.21.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.21.4 Business Strategy 8.21.5 SWOT Analysis 8.21.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.22 Sylvamo Corporation 8.22.1 Company Overview 8.22.2 Key Products & Segments 8.22.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.22.4 Business Strategy 8.22.5 SWOT Analysis 8.22.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.23 SIG Group AG 8.23.1 Company Overview 8.23.2 Key Products & Segments 8.23.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.23.4 Business Strategy 8.23.5 SWOT Analysis 8.23.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.24 Greif, Inc. 8.24.1 Company Overview 8.24.2 Key Products & Segments 8.24.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.24.4 Business Strategy 8.24.5 SWOT Analysis 8.24.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.25 Sappi Limited 8.25.1 Company Overview 8.25.2 Key Products & Segments 8.25.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.25.4 Business Strategy 8.25.5 SWOT Analysis 8.25.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.26 Oji Holdings Corporation 8.26.1 Company Overview 8.26.2 Key Products & Segments 8.26.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.26.4 Business Strategy 8.26.5 SWOT Analysis 8.26.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 8.27 Klabin S.A. 8.27.1 Company Overview 8.27.2 Key Products & Segments 8.27.3 Financial Performance (2023–2025) 8.27.4 Business Strategy 8.27.5 SWOT Analysis 8.27.6 Strategic Implications (2025–2031) 9. Competitive Landscape 9.1 Competitive Landscape Overview 9.1.1 Market Structure and the Nature of Competition 9.1.2 Why Aggregate Market Concentration Cannot Be Measured 9.1.3 Profiled Companies: Key Revenue Facts 9.1.4 Revenue Performance: Divergent Trends Within the Same Industry 9.1.5 Overall Competitive Intensity 9.2 Competitive Intensity Assessment 9.2.1 Structure of the Competitive Field 9.2.2 Capacity Versus Demand Dynamics 9.2.3 Pricing Environment: Premium, Value, and Commoditised Tiers 9.2.4 Barriers to Entry and Exit 9.3 Key Player Strategies & Positioning 9.3.1 Strategic Group Architecture 9.3.2 Scale and Revenue Differentiation 9.3.3 M&A and Combination Activity, 2022–Present 9.3.4 Geographic Strongholds 9.3.5 Differentiation Strategies by Substrate 9.3.6 R&D and Technology Investment Positioning 9.4 Competitive Dynamics & Strategic Outlook 9.4.1 The Competitive Landscape in Transition 9.4.2 Consolidation as the Defining Strategic Force 9.4.3 Fragmentation Outlook by Segment 9.4.4 Emerging Competitive Threats 9.4.5 Competitive Response Matrix 9.4.6 Strategic Recommendations for 2026–2031 10. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 10.1 Threat of New Entrants 10.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 10.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 10.4 Threat of Substitutes 10.5 Competitive Rivalry 11. PESTLE Analysis 11.1 Overview 11.2 Political 11.3 Economic 11.4 Sociological 11.5 Technological 11.6 Legal 11.7 Environmental 11.8 PESTLE Summary Table 12. SWOT Analysis 12.1.1 Detailed Analysis 12.1.1.1 Strengths 12.1.1.2 Weaknesses 12.1.1.3 Opportunities 12.1.1.4 Threats 12.1.2 Strategic Implications 13. Future Trends & Outlook 13.1 Overview 13.2 Trend: Accelerating Consolidation and Scale-Driven Competitive Repositioning 13.3 Trend: Structural Decline of Graphic Paper Accelerating Volume Pressure 13.4 Trend: Fibre-Based Packaging Outperforming as Folding Carton Demand Surges 13.5 Trend: Metal Packaging Outperformance Driven by Beverage Can Demand 13.6 Trend: Glass Packaging Recovery Fragile and Geographically Uneven 13.7 Trend: Flexible Packaging Maintaining Volume Leadership with Bifurcated Source Estimates 13.8 Trend: Asia Pacific and Emerging Markets Asserting Volume Leadership in Paper and Board 13.9 Trend: Tissue Segment Under Revenue Pressure Despite Volume Stability 13.10 Summary Table: Future Trends Assessment 13.11 Forward Outlook: 2026–2031 List of Exhibits Exhibit 2.1: Forecast of Global Market YoY Growth Rate & CAGR Summary (in %) Exhibit 2.2: Forecast of Global Market YoY Growth Rate & CAGR Summary (in %) Exhibit 2.3: Forecast of Global (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.4: Forecast of North America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.5: Forecast of Europe (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.6: Forecast of Asia Pacific (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.7: Forecast of Latin America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.8: Forecast of Middle East and Africa (in USD Bn) Exhibit 2.9: Forecast of Global (in Mt) Exhibit 2.10: Forecast of North America (in Mt) Exhibit 2.11: Forecast of Europe (in Mt) Exhibit 2.12: Forecast of Asia Pacific (in Mt) Exhibit 2.13: Forecast of Latin America (in Mt) Exhibit 2.14: Forecast of Middle East and Africa (in Mt) Exhibit 3.15: Forecast of Corrugated Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.16: Forecast of Corrugated Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 3.17: Forecast of Folding Cartons (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.18: Forecast of Folding Cartons (in Mt) Exhibit 3.19: Forecast of Flexible Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.20: Forecast of Rigid Plastic Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.21: Forecast of Glass Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.22: Forecast of Metal Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.23: Forecast of Tissue & Hygiene Paper (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.24: Forecast of Tissue & Hygiene Paper (in Mt) Exhibit 3.25: Forecast of Graphic Paper (in USD Bn) Exhibit 3.26: Forecast of Graphic Paper (in Mt) Exhibit 4.27: Forecast of Food Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.28: Forecast of Food Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 4.29: Forecast of Beverage Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.30: Forecast of Beverage Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 4.31: Forecast of Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.32: Forecast of Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 4.33: Forecast of Personal Care & Household Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.34: Forecast of Personal Care & Household Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 4.35: Forecast of E-commerce Industrial & Transit Packaging (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.36: Forecast of E-commerce Industrial & Transit Packaging (in Mt) Exhibit 4.37: Forecast of Printing Publishing & Hygiene Paper (in USD Bn) Exhibit 4.38: Forecast of Printing Publishing & Hygiene Paper (in Mt) Exhibit 6.39: Forecast of North America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.40: Forecast of United States (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.41: Forecast of Canada (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.42: Forecast of Mexico (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.43: Forecast of Rest of North America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.44: Forecast of North America (in Mt) Exhibit 6.45: Forecast of United States (in Mt) Exhibit 6.46: Forecast of Canada (in Mt) Exhibit 6.47: Forecast of Mexico (in Mt) Exhibit 6.48: Forecast of Rest of North America (in Mt) Exhibit 6.49: Forecast of Europe (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.50: Forecast of Germany (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.51: Forecast of United Kingdom (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.52: Forecast of France (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.53: Forecast of Italy (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.54: Forecast of Spain (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.55: Forecast of Netherlands (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.56: Forecast of Rest of Europe (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.57: Forecast of Europe (in Mt) Exhibit 6.58: Forecast of Germany (in Mt) Exhibit 6.59: Forecast of United Kingdom (in Mt) Exhibit 6.60: Forecast of France (in Mt) Exhibit 6.61: Forecast of Italy (in Mt) Exhibit 6.62: Forecast of Spain (in Mt) Exhibit 6.63: Forecast of Netherlands (in Mt) Exhibit 6.64: Forecast of Rest of Europe (in Mt) Exhibit 6.65: Forecast of Asia Pacific (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.66: Forecast of China (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.67: Forecast of Japan (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.68: Forecast of India (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.69: Forecast of South Korea (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.70: Forecast of Indonesia (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.71: Forecast of Australia (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.72: Forecast of Vietnam (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.73: Forecast of Thailand (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.74: Forecast of Rest of Asia Pacific (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.75: Forecast of Asia Pacific (in Mt) Exhibit 6.76: Forecast of China (in Mt) Exhibit 6.77: Forecast of Japan (in Mt) Exhibit 6.78: Forecast of India (in Mt) Exhibit 6.79: Forecast of South Korea (in Mt) Exhibit 6.80: Forecast of Indonesia (in Mt) Exhibit 6.81: Forecast of Australia (in Mt) Exhibit 6.82: Forecast of Vietnam (in Mt) Exhibit 6.83: Forecast of Thailand (in Mt) Exhibit 6.84: Forecast of Rest of Asia Pacific (in Mt) Exhibit 6.85: Forecast of Latin America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.86: Forecast of Brazil (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.87: Forecast of Argentina (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.88: Forecast of Colombia (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.89: Forecast of Chile (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.90: Forecast of Rest of Latin America (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.91: Forecast of Latin America (in Mt) Exhibit 6.92: Forecast of Brazil (in Mt) Exhibit 6.93: Forecast of Argentina (in Mt) Exhibit 6.94: Forecast of Colombia (in Mt) Exhibit 6.95: Forecast of Chile (in Mt) Exhibit 6.96: Forecast of Rest of Latin America (in Mt) Exhibit 6.97: Forecast of Middle East and Africa (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.98: Forecast of Saudi Arabia (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.99: Forecast of South Africa (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.100: Forecast of Turkey (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.101: Forecast of United Arab Emirates (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.102: Forecast of Egypt (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.103: Forecast of Nigeria (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.104: Forecast of Rest of Middle East and Africa (in USD Bn) Exhibit 6.105: Forecast of Middle East and Africa (in Mt) Exhibit 6.106: Forecast of Saudi Arabia (in Mt) Exhibit 6.107: Forecast of South Africa (in Mt) Exhibit 6.108: Forecast of Turkey (in Mt) Exhibit 6.109: Forecast of United Arab Emirates (in Mt) Exhibit 6.110: Forecast of Egypt (in Mt) Exhibit 6.111: Forecast of Nigeria (in Mt) Exhibit 6.112: Forecast of Rest of Middle East and Africa (in Mt) |
*If Applicable.