Retort Packaging Market

Retort Packaging Market Research, 2032

The global retort packaging market size was valued at $14.6 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $28.5 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032. Retort packaging is a type of heat-sealing that is used for food preservation. It is often associated with canning but has many other applications as well, including storing liquids and powders. The process involves sealing the container with a heated lid to create an airtight seal. This ensures that no bacteria or contaminants will be able to enter the container during storage or transport.

The retort packaging market is negatively impacted by the inflation triggered by the war in Ukraine and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The uncertain prices of raw materials have severe impacts on the end-users of retort packaging; thereby, limiting the retort packaging market growth.

Retort packaging is an economical and efficient way to preserve food. Retort pouches are made of a strong layer of plastic that can withstand boiling water for up to 10 minutes, rendering the product sterile. The airtight nature of these packages also protects items from exposure to oxygen, thereby prolonging shelf life. Retort packaging provides various advantages over other methods because it is less expensive than glass jars or cans, is lighter in weight than metal tins, and does not require refrigeration until after opening the package. In addition, retort packaging is a better alternative to traditional canning methods because cans and jars are heavy and bulky. They occupy a fair amount of shelf space, increasing the warehousing and transportation costs whereas, retort pouches are lightweight and occupy less space. The sterilization of the packaged products is achieved by rapid heat transfer. The thin profile of the retort pouches reduces the process time for sterilization. These features of retort pouches can increase their adoption as alternatives for cans and jars for storage of food products. These factors are anticipated to boost the demand for retort pouches from the food and beverage industry, which is expected to boost the retort packaging market growth.

Moreover, the demand for packaged food that is either raw or cooked inside a retort pouch is growing at a fast pace globally. For instance, Walmart is the global leader in packaged food sales with a record sales forecast of $605 billion in 2023. The reasons are consumers changing lifestyles due to hectic schedules and the increasing number of consumers who do not prefer spending much time on cooking. These factors are expected to increase the demand for processed food, which can consequently result in a rise in demand and growth of the retort packaging market during the forecast period. However, uncertain prices of raw materials are anticipated to restrain the growth of the market. On the contrary, growth in e-commerce sectors and innovations in packaging materials and technology are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the retort packaging market.

Segmental Overview

The retort packaging market is segmented into Type, Material, End User, and region. By type, the market is categorized into pouches, trays, cartons, and others. On the basis of material, it is divided into paperboard, aluminum foil, polypropylene, and others. On the basis of end users, it is divided into food, beverages, and others. Region-wise, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

By Type: The retort packaging market is divided into pouches, trays, cartons, and others. In 2020, the pouches segment dominated the retort packaging market, in terms of revenue, and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. A retort pouch is a laminated plastic packaging that is thin, lightweight, and flexible and is used to hold processed meals. The pouch is also known as a flexible pouch for low-acid foods that are heat-treated in a pressure vessel, known as "retort pouches". The pouch is made of layers of polyester, aluminum foil, and polypropylene.  It is used to store seafood, pet food, soups, and sources of meat and ready-to-eat meals. In addition, the pouch is hermetically sealed so it can withstand high temperatures during the sterilization process. The sealed pouch also provides an extended life for the product, which makes it perfect for storing food for long periods of time. The packaging industry is moving toward retort pouches, owing to their multi-fold energy and environmental advantages. Retort pouch offers numerous advantages such as freshness, barrier protection, durability, printability, and simplicity of use of the product. Thus, the market is anticipated to experience growth during the forecast period.

By Material: The retort packaging market is classified into paperboard, aluminum foil, polypropylene, and others. The polypropylene segment is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Polypropylene (PP) has gained significant demand as a material for retort packaging owing to its exceptional resistance to heat and its strong barrier properties. The major factor driving the adoption of polypropylene in the retort packaging sector is its capacity to endure high-temperature processing while preserving the quality of food products, making it suitable for ready-to-eat meals and other convenient food items. Furthermore, its lightweight nature reduces transportation costs, and its recyclability makes it an environmentally friendly choice that aligns with the increasing focus on sustainability. In addition, innovations in polypropylene packaging technology have enabled the creation of more versatile and visually appealing packaging designs, meeting consumer expectations for both practicality and aesthetically pleasing packaging. Polypropylene acts as a sealing layer and provides flexibility and strength to the retort packaging. Polypropylene is a tough and robust plastic material that assists in retaining the freshness of various food items owing to which it is widely used in manufacturing retort pouches, trays, cans, etc. These benefits of polypropylene used in retort packaging are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

By End User: The retort packaging market is categorized into food, beverage, and others. In 2020, the food segment dominated the retort packaging market, in terms of revenue, and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. In the food industry, retort packaging is a very common way to package prepared foods. Retort packs are heated in a pressurized environment and sealed before being cooled and sterilized. These packs can be used for many things such as soups, rice dishes, sauces, meat products, fish items, and pasta dishes among others. The advantage of this type of packaging is that it provides an easy way to heat these products even when there’s no access to electricity or gas because all you need is boiling water. The retort is a processing method that uses heat and pressure to sterilize food. It is one of the most used methods of thermal food processing and is popular with food producers across the world. The sealed pouch can also be re-heated in hot water or in a microwave before consumption. Such factors are expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.

By region: The retort packaging market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. In 2020, Asia-Pacific had the highest retort packaging market share and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, due to extensive demand in the food segment. Asia-Pacific is witnessing a surge in demand for packaged food and is expected to increase the demand for retort packaging technology during the forecast period. The increasing urbanization, higher disposable income, and awareness of food safety are driving the retort packaging market growth. The increasing urbanization and busy lifestyle have led to a rising demand for convenient, ready-to-eat food products which is expected to boost demand for retort packaging. The growing e-commerce industry fuels the demand for efficient and secure packaging solutions. Retort packaging provides effective protection during transit, reducing the risk of leakage, breakage, and contamination. In addition, the rise in demand for sustainable packaging solutions leads to the adoption of retort packaging by various end-users such as food & beverage. Moreover, advancements in retort packaging technology have made packaging more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Asia-Pacific is a large consumer of retort packaging, which drives the demand for them. The rise in demand for retort packaging in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics drives the demand for retort packaging, owing to the fact that they help ease the process of packaging and transit. All such factors are expected to fuel the retort packaging market growth.

Competition Analysis

Competitive analysis and profiles of the major players in the retort packaging market are Amcor PLC, Berry Global Group, Inc., Constantia Flexibles Group, Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging Ltd., Mondi Group, ProAmpac, Sonoco Products Company, Sealed Air Corporation, Tredegar Corporation, Winpak Limited. Major players have adopted product launch, collaboration, and acquisition as key developmental strategies to improve the product portfolio of the retort packaging market.

Some examples of product launches in the market

In October 2021, Mondi launched RetortPouch Recyclable – a mono-material solution for pet food manufacturers. The new high-barrier pouch will replace complex multi-layer and unrecyclable packaging for a range of food and wet pet food products. Moist or semi-moist foods that are heat-treated in steam or hot water retort vessels to achieve commercial sterilization for shelf-stable foods require retort packaging.

In April 2022, ProAmpac launched the unique ProActive PCR Retort pouches. ProActive PCR Retort pouches offer 30 weight percentages or greater PCR content, reducing the use of virgin resins in the packaging. In addition, these innovative pouches comply with the United Kingdom (UK) Plastics Packaging Tax (PPT).

In April 2023, Huhtamaki launched the mono-material technology. It is innovative and sustainable flexible packaging, in Paper, PE, and PP Retort. This innovation ensures the high level of product protection for food and household essentials that flexible packaging is known for.

In August 2023, Amcor launched its AmFiber Performance Paper packaging is now available to customers in Latin America seeking a high-barrier, recyclable paper-based packaging solution. Launched first for the confectionery market with a cold seal, it has been recently expanded to include heat seal sachets for dry culinary and beverage applications, such as instant coffee, drink powders, spices, seasonings, and dried soups.

Acquisitions in the market

In August 2023, Amcor announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Phoenix Flexibles, expanding its capacity in the high-growth Indian market. Phoenix Flexibles has one plant located in Gujarat, India, and the business generates annual revenue of approximately US$20 million from the sale of flexible packaging for food, home care, and personal care applications.

In November 2022, Sealed Air Corporation acquired Liquibox, a pioneer, innovator, and manufacturer of Bag-in-Box sustainable Fluids and liquids packaging and dispensing solutions for fresh food, beverage, consumer goods, and industrial end-markets.

Collaboration in the market

In June 2022, Mondi Group collaborated with the National Test Centre Circular Plastics (NTCP) in the Netherlands, these tests, simulating realistic packaging waste management conditions, were designed to determine the sortability of Mondi’s recyclable mono PP packaging. Using state-of-the-art technical set-ups, the tests were carried out on pre-made retort and standard pouches, spouted pouches, and top web and thermoformed semi-rigid tray material. These are made from mono PP-material and used for demanding applications that require high barrier protection, such as wet pet food or processed meat.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

• The report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging retort packaging market trends and dynamics. 
• In-depth retort packaging market analysis is conducted by constructing market estimations for the key market segments between 2020 and 2032.
• Extensive analysis of the retort packaging market outlook is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring of the top competitors within the market framework.
• A comprehensive analysis of all regions is provided to determine the prevailing opportunities.
• The retort packaging market forecast analysis from 2023 to 2032 is included in the report.
• The key market players within the retort packaging market are profiled in this report and their strategies are analyzed thoroughly, which helps understand the competitive outlook of the retort packaging industry.

 Retort Packaging Market Report Highlights