China Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

China Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Analysis

The China Rigid Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of shipment volume is expected to grow from 9.30 Million metric tons in 2024 to 11.35 Million metric tons by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.07% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

China's surging plastic production significantly fuels its packaging industry. Rigid plastic packaging containers, with their superior impact strength, stiffness, and barrier properties, are outpacing other packaging types, driving the robust growth of the rigid plastic packaging market in China.

• According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the country's GDP grew by 5.2% in 2023, reaching a total of USD 17.5 trillion. As urbanization rises and per capita disposable income increases, so does the demand for food and beverage products, fueling market growth.
• As reported by the USDA, consumer demands and purchasing behaviors are diversifying, increasingly aligning with lifestyle choices. There is a notable surge in demand for healthy and premium foods. Popular sectors include semi-prepared foods, plant-based items, and packaged goods, all of which are propelling the demand for rigid plastic packaging solutions.
• China's rising income levels and heightened health consciousness are driving up the consumption of meat, poultry, and seafood. This trend, coupled with China's status as the top meat importer, has increased demand for plastic packaging solutions. Even with rising meat prices in 2023, consumption continued to grow, further amplifying the need for rigid plastic packaging.
• In response to the rising consumer demand for eco-friendly products, manufacturers in China are focusing on developing sustainable packaging solutions. For example, in May 2024, Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG, an Austria-based firm operating in China, unveiled a recyclable PET wine bottle. This innovation cuts carbon consumption by 38% compared to traditional glass and enhances the company's environmental footprint.
• Despite these advancements, China faces a daunting challenge with plastic pollution, a crisis made more severe by its notorious air pollution issues. The country represents about one-fifth of global plastic consumption. It is the world's foremost manufacturer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics made entirely from new, non-recycled sources. This duality poses significant challenges for companies operating within the nation.

China Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Trends

Food Segment Estimated to Have Significant Share in the Market

China Rigid Plastic Packaging Industry Segmentation

The scope of the study characterizes the rigid plastic packaging market based on the raw material of the product, including PP, PE, PET, and other raw materials used across various end-use industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, beverage, personal care, industrial, and automotive. The research also examines underlying growth influencers and significant industry vendors, which support market estimates and growth rates throughout the anticipated period. The market estimates and projections are based on the base year factors and arrived at top-down and bottom-up approaches.

The China rigid plastic packaging market is segmented by product type (bottles and jars, trays and containers, caps and closures, intermediate bulk containers (IMCs), drums, pallets, and other product types), material type (polyethylene (PE) (LDPE & LLDPE and HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVS), and other rigid plastic packaging materials), and end-use industries (food (candy & confectionary, frozen foods, fresh produce, dairy products, dry foods, meat, poultry and seafood, pet food, and other food products), foodservice (quick service restaurants, full service restaurants, coffee and snack outlets, retail establishments, institutional, hospitality, and other foodservice end-uses), beverage, healthcare, cosmetics and personal care, industrial, building and construction, automotive, and other end-use industries (household products and logistics)). The market sizing and forecasts are provided in terms of volume (tons) for all the above segments.