Liquid Packaging Market Research- 2027
The global liquid packaging market was valued at $331.8 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $463.2 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027.
Introduction
Liquid packaging refers to the specialized process of designing, manufacturing, and utilizing materials to safely contain, transport, and dispense liquid products. It includes a wide range of packaging formats, including bottles, cartons, pouches, cans, and flexible containers, each tailored to specific liquid types such as beverages, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and household liquids. The primary objectives of liquid packaging are to ensure product integrity, prevent leakage or contamination, extend shelf life, and enhance convenience for consumers. Advanced materials like polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and multi-layer laminates are commonly used to provide durability, barrier protection, and sustainability. Innovations in liquid packaging also focus on eco-friendly solutions, such as biodegradable materials and recyclable options, to minimize environmental impact while maintaining functionality and cost-effectiveness.
Market Dynamics
Liquid packaging consists of the materials and packaging formats used in the packing, transportation, and storage of liquids and semi-liquids. Proper selection of liquid packaging is essential to enable its proper transportation and long-term storage. It includes rigid packaging formats such as bottles & containers and flexible packaging formats such as films, stand-up pouches, squeezable tubes, cartons, and bag-on-box. Liquid packaging can be of a single substrate or can be multi-layered laminate as in case of liquid cartons. They are used in packing both food products as well as non-food products such as chemicals.
The global liquid packaging market size is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period, owing to increase in demand in the food & beverage and pharmaceuticals industries. The food & beverage, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industries have one of the largest consumer bases globally, and these industries are also the major end users of liquid packaging. Increase in disposable income and change in lifestyles have affected the consumption patterns, leading to higher demand for packaged beverage products and other FMCG products. E-commerce platforms also cater to every consumer good that use liquid packaging. It includes personal care products, cosmetics, over-the-counter drugs, topical solutions, and household care products. Furthermore, e-commerce co-packers demand customized packaging solutions that reduce lead time. Hence, the growth of the FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods) industry will boost the demand for liquid packaging during the forecast period. Furthermore, advantages of flexible liquid packaging such as convenient and easy-to-use packaging, ability to maintain freshness and enhance the shelf life of food, reduced packaging cost of food products, eliminate material wastage, and facilitate customization of packages further boost the liquid packaging market growth. New packaging products can be prototyped within a short time. In addition, high demand for lightweight packaging products significantly fuels the growth of the liquid packaging market. Several manufacturers have started using lightweight packaging products to address cost-related concerns across the value chain. Moreover, manufacturers are inclined toward recyclable polymers as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based polymers. Therefore, rise in concerns regarding disposal of plastic packaging products and stringent government regulations regarding plastic packaging products are expected to restrain the global market growth.
Shifting toward renewable and innovative packaging solutions is expected to provide growth opportunities for the global liquid packaging market. For instance, in 2019, cosmetic products manufacturer L'Oréal developed its first carton-based cosmetic tube in technical collaboration with Albéa – a cosmetic packaging wholesaler. The carton is made from bio-based paper-like material that replaces majority of the plastic. L'Oréal is set to launch this new cosmetic tube in the second half of 2020. Similarly, finish-based packaging solutions provider Stora Enso Oyj also developed a paperboard tube for cosmetics packaging as a climate-friendly alternative to plastic tubes. The paperboard tube is suitable for the primary packaging of skin cream products. Further, the incorporation of nanoparticles in food contact materials has the potential to provide a new technological spur in the liquid packaging market. Several nanoparticles can provide active properties to food packaging materials such as antimicrobial properties, oxygen scavenging ability, and enzyme immobilization.
The global liquid packaging market is segmented by materials, technology, packaging format, end user, and region. Based on materials, the global market is studied into paperboard, plastics, glass, metal, and others. Plastics is further sub-segmented into polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and others. Based on technology, the global market is segmented into aseptic liquid packaging, blow molding, and Form Fill Seal technology. Based on packaging format, the global market is segmented into flexible and rigid. Flexible liquid packaging is further sub-segmented into films, stand-up pouches, and bag-in-box; while rigid liquid packaging is sub-segmented into carton, paperboards; bottles, jars, cans & tubes. The end users of liquid packaging are food & beverages, personal care, pharmaceutical, household care, industrial, and other industries. Based on region, the global market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
The global market profiles the leading players in the liquid packaging market, they include Amcor Limited, Berry Global, Constantia Flexibles, Gerresheimer AG, Goglio S.p.A., MONDI Plc, ProAmpac, Reynolds Group Holdings Ltd., Sealed Air Corporation, SIG Combibloc Group Ltd., Smurfit Kappa, Sonoco Products Company, and Tetra Laval.
By Region
North America would exhibit a CAGR of 5.4% during 2019-2027.
Global Liquid Packaging Market, By Country
Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019, owing to presence of countries such as India and China that have a vast consumer base for food & beverages, and other end-users of liquid packaging.
By Material Type
Others is projected as the most lucrative segment.
Global Liquid Packaging Market, By Materials
The plastics segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019, owing to its superior properties over other materials such as flexibility, durability, and low costs.
By Technology
Form Fill Seal is projected as the most lucrative segment.
Global Liquid Packaging Market, By Technology
The aseptic liquid packaging segment accounted for the largest share in 2019, as well as was the fastest growing segment due to the demand for aseptic liquid packaging for food & beverage and pharmaceutical sterile liquid packaging.
By Packaging Type
Flexible is projected as the most lucrative segment.
Global Liquid Packaging Market, By Packaging Format
The rigid liquid packaging segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019, owing to abundant use of bottles and containers made of glass as well as plastic. The flexible liquid packaging segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment, owing to the increasing trend of replacing rigid liquid packaging with flexible liquid packaging.
By End-user
Pharmaceutical is projected as the most lucrative segment.
Global Liquid Packaging Market, By End User
The food & beverage industry accounted for the highest market share in 2019 due to increase in consumers of packed food & beverages as well as expansion of the food retailing sector. The pharmaceutical segment is the fastest growing segment, due to growing pharmaceutical industry, which increase the demand for squeezable tubes and medical vials.
Recent Key Strategies and Developments
In September 2024, The Humble Co., a Swedish company known for its sustainable and innovative personal care products, enhanced its commitment to eco-friendliness by revamping its mouthwash packaging. Through a partnership with Elopak, the company replaced its PET packaging with more sustainable cartons for its mint-flavored mouthwash.
In May 2024, ITO EN, a player in the Japanese beverage industry, introduced two premium beverages featuring bite-sized pieces in SIG SmileSmall carton packs. This was made possible by the SIG Drinksplus technology integrated into the SIG SmileSmall 24 Aseptic filling machine. The two new products from ITO EN are a crispy potage, a creamy tomato potage with onion bits, and a carrot smoothie containing carrot pieces.
Key Benefits For Stakeholders
- The global liquid packaging market growth covers in-depth information of the major industry participants.
- Porter’s five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of buyers & suppliers and the competitive scenario of the industry for strategy building.
- Major countries have been mapped according to their individual revenue contribution to the regional market.
- The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global liquid packaging market forecast for the period 2020–2027.
- The report outlines the current global liquid packaging market trends and future estimations from 2019 to 2027 to understand the prevailing opportunities and potential investment pockets.
- The key drivers, restraints, and regional market opportunity and their detailed impact analysis is elucidated in the study.
Liquid Packaging Market, by Material Report Highlights
| Aspects | Details |
 By Material |
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 By Packaging Type |
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 By Technology |
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 By End User |
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 By Region |
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 Key Market Players | SEALED AIR CORPORATION, SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY, CONSTANTIA FLEXIBLES, SMURFIT KAPPA GROUP PLC, REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS LTD., BERRY GLOBAL GROUP INC., GOGLIO S.P.A., GERRESHEIMER AG, MONDI PLC, TETRA LAVAL, PROAMPAC LLC, SIG COMBIBLOC GROUP AG, AMCOR LTD. |
Analyst Review
Apart from protection, packaging plays a crucial role in increasing brand awareness and sales of products. Retailers and wholesalers have focused on bringing on variations in packaging size and functionality to cater to different segments and customer needs. The adoption of ecofriendly designs and other advanced strategies for paper-based packaging are expected to increase in the near future. The light weight property and cost-effectiveness of liquid packaging are some of the key driving factors of the market. Moreover, branding & design flexibility, tamper resistance, and product protection are some of the other factors supplementing the growth of the liquid packaging market. However, government regulations pertaining to the use of plastic and its disposal are expected to hamper the global liquid packaging market growth.
The global liquid packaging market presents promising opportunities for packaging manufacturers, owing to high consumption rate of packaged food & beverages and surge in commodity demand due to rise in disposable income. The presence of global food & beverage companies, expansion of e-commerce activities as well as booming food delivery chains fuel the demand for liquid packaging. In addition, growth in the pharmaceutical industry in the region is anticipated to augment the demand for pharmaceutical liquid packaging during the forecast period.
Increase in demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and Increase in e-commerce activities and food delivery services are the main drivers of the global liquid packaging market
The global liquid packaging market is projected to reach $463.2 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027
Major liquid packaging players are Amcor Limited, Berry Global, Constantia Flexibles, Gerresheimer AG, Goglio S.p.A., MONDI Plc, ProAmpac, Reynolds Group Holdings Ltd., SIG Combibloc Group Ltd., Sealed Air Corporation, Smurfit Kappa Sonoco Products Company, and Tetra Laval.
Shifting focus toward renewable and innovative packaging solutions and development of nano-food packaging are the opportunities for the growth of the Global Liquid Packaging Market
The pharmaceutical segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment, hence increase the demand for liquid packaging
The food & beverage industry is the most influential for the growth of the global liquid packaging market
Increase in demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and Increase in e-commerce activities and food delivery services are the main drivers of the global liquid packaging market
The need for packaging in food & beverage products, pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, chemicals, and consumer products majorly drive the adoption of liquid packaging
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in demand for liquid packaging in food & beverage and pharmaceutical products such as santizer & disinfectant bottles and handwash pouches.
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