The global packaging and paper industry is estimated at US$1.29 trillion (about US$1.3 trillion) in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$1.67 trillion 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$260.80 billion (20.1% share) in 2025, followed by flexible packaging (18.6%), folding cartons (16.2%) and corrugated packaging (15.3%). Folding cartons are the fastest-growing type at 5.9% CAGR; graphic paper is the slowest at 1.3%. Asia Pacific is the largest region at 38.4% of 2025 value.
The report sizes corrugated packaging, folding cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastic packaging, glass packaging, metal packaging, tissue and hygiene paper and graphic paper. Physical volume is carried only for the four paper-based types (355.4 million tonnes in 2025); the other types are valued on revenue alone. Published third-party estimates differ materially by aggregator scope and no audited industry-wide sales series exists, so the totals are best estimates within a range, and the report states the evidence grade behind each figure.
The report sizes corrugated packaging, folding cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastic packaging, glass packaging, metal packaging, tissue and hygiene paper and graphic paper. Physical volume is carried only for the four paper-based types (355.4 million tonnes in 2025); the other types are valued on revenue alone. Published third-party estimates differ materially by aggregator scope and no audited industry-wide sales series exists, so the totals are best estimates within a range, and the report states the evidence grade behind each figure.
Scope of the Global Packaging & Paper Industry Strategic Research Report
This report covers market value (US$ 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
- Corrugated Packaging
- Folding Cartons
- Flexible Packaging
- Rigid Plastic Packaging
- Glass Packaging
- Metal Packaging
- Tissue & Hygiene Paper
- Graphic Paper
Segment by Application
- Food Packaging
- Beverage Packaging
- Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Packaging
- Personal Care & Household Packaging
- E-commerce Industrial & Transit Packaging
- Printing Publishing & Hygiene Paper
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.Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Industry Overview & Forecast
3. Market Segmentation by Type
4. Market Segmentation by Application
5. Regional Market Forecast
6. Country-Level Market Forecast
7. Growth Drivers & Inhibitors
8. Key Company Profiles
9. Competitive Landscape
10. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
11. PESTLE Analysis
12. SWOT Analysis
13. Future Trends & Outlook
List of Exhibits
Companies Mentioned
- 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.
