Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Enabled Returnable Drum Market Report 2026

The radio frequency identification (rfid) enabled returnable drum market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.28 billion in 2025 to $1.46 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing use of returnable industrial containers, expansion of chemical and pharmaceutical logistics, rising losses from manual container tracking, adoption of basic rfid technologies, growth in closed-loop supply chains.

The radio frequency identification (rfid) enabled returnable drum market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.46 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing sustainability-driven packaging mandates, rising adoption of advanced rfid analytics, expansion of digital supply chain platforms, growing demand for real-time asset visibility, integration of smart packaging technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of rfid-based asset tracking drums, rising use of reusable industrial packaging, growing integration of supply chain visibility platforms, expansion of automated inventory management systems, enhanced focus on drum lifecycle monitoring.

The increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions is expected to drive the growth of the radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled returnable drum market in the coming years. Sustainable packaging involves designing and using materials that minimize environmental impact by being recyclable, biodegradable, or derived from renewable resources. The rising demand is fueled by growing consumer awareness of environmental issues and businesses’ efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, leading to a shift from traditional packaging to eco-friendly alternatives. RFID-enabled returnable drums contribute to this trend by enabling efficient tracking, reuse, and lifecycle management of containers, thus reducing single-use packaging waste and lowering the overall environmental footprint of supply chains. For example, in January 2023, UK-based packaging company Protega Global Ltd. reported that 81% of consumers demanded sustainable packaging in 2023, a significant increase compared to previous years, reflecting a shift away from plastic waste. As a result, the demand for sustainable packaging is accelerating the growth of the RFID-enabled returnable drum market.

The growing integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to drive the expansion of the radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled returnable drum market in the coming years. IoT integration refers to connecting devices and systems to the internet so they can collect, share, and analyze data to improve automation, monitoring, and decision-making. The rise in IoT integration is driven by the increasing need for real-time data and automation, as businesses and consumers adopt connected devices to oversee, control, and optimize operations, leading to widespread deployment across industries rather than reliance on manual processes. RFID-enabled returnable drums support IoT integration by providing real-time monitoring, automated tracking, and data-driven container management, enhancing supply chain efficiency, asset utilization, and operational visibility. For example, in May 2023, the IoT Analytics GmbH State of IoT Spring 2023 report - a Germany-based research framework covering IoT, AI, edge computing, cloud services, and Industry 4.0 - indicated that global IoT connections were expected to grow by 18% to 14.3 billion active endpoints in 2022, while total connected IoT devices were projected to increase by 16% to 16.7 billion active endpoints by 2023. Therefore, the increasing integration of IoT is contributing to the growth of the RFID-enabled returnable drum market.

In March 2024, Greif, Inc., a US-based manufacturing company, acquired Ipackchem Group SAS for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Greif aims to execute its "build to last" strategy by expanding its capabilities and market presence in the high-performance small plastic containers and jerrycans sector. Ipackchem Group SAS, based in France, specializes in RFID-enabled returnable drums.

Major companies operating in the radio frequency identification (rfid) enabled returnable drum market are Honeywell International Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, Greif Inc., Zebra Technologies Corporation, HID, Checkpoint Systems Inc., SATO Holdings Corporation, Impinj Inc., SML Group Limited, Identiv Inc., Invengo Information Technology Co. Ltd., Mojix Inc., Alien Technology, Barcoding Inc., GAO RFID Inc., William Frick & Company, Xerafy (HK) Limited, Tageos SAS, RFiD Discovery.

North America was the largest region in the radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled returnable drum market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the radio frequency identification (rfid) enabled returnable drum market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the radio frequency identification (rfid) enabled returnable drum market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled returnable drum market consists of sales of products including RFID-tagged drums, reusable plastic or metal containers, RFID readers and scanners, tracking software, and associated accessories. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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