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

GCC Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Analysis

The GCC Rigid Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of shipment volume is expected to grow from 2.29 Million tonnes in 2024 to 2.79 Million tonnes by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.01% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

• Growing urbanization, economic recovery, and the reopening of the hospitality and tourist industries in the region are all projected to contribute to a moderate increase in food consumption. For instance, according to UNDP, most GCC nations have an urbanization rate of more than 80%. This would significantly enhance the number of consumers visiting grocery stores, mostly finding food packaged in rigid containers.
• Rigid plastic is expected to be among the most popular packaging types during the forecast period. Almarai's investments to meet the growing need for PET bottles in the region further confirm this. As the leader in the juice market, Almarai installed two new Sidel PET complete lines, each handling 54,000 bottles/hour, in its Al Kharj central processing plant (CPP).
• The region includes significant countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where the food industry remains one of the most vital sectors in the overall economy. According to Foodex Saudi, the total domestic food consumption in the country is 3,130 calories per person per day. This creates an annual consumption growth rate of 18.5% in the food industry. Consumption rates were anticipated to expand by 55% through 2023. Such trends would significantly create demand for rigid plastic products in the region.
• Further, in the region, the adoption of rigid plastic packaging for pharmaceuticals is on the rise. Various market players have successfully carved out niches to meet this demand. Given the growing consumption of packaging by diverse end users and a notable shift toward longevity-focused packaging solutions, the market is poised for favorable growth rates during the forecast period.
• The primary challenge facing the GCC rigid plastic packaging market is the environmental apprehensions surrounding plastic disposal. With a rising commitment to zero-waste principles, consumers and companies are placing sustainability at the forefront of their agendas. For instance, in line with its ambition to attain carbon neutrality by 2050, the United Arab Emirates is expected to ban the import of plastic cutlery, drink cups, styrofoam, and boxes in 2024.

GCC Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Trends

Food Segment to Hold Significant Market Share

GCC Rigid Plastic Packaging Industry Segmentation

The GCC rigid plastic packaging market tracks the demand for rigid plastic packaging products catering to the food, beverage, healthcare, personal care, cosmetic, and other industries. Plastics can be of different grades and different material combinations based on the type of product being packed, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride.

The GCC rigid plastic packaging market report is segmented by resin type (polyethylene [PE] (low-density polyethylene [LDPE] and linear low-density polyethylene [LLDPE], high-density polyethylene [HDPE], polyethylene terephthalate [PET], polypropylene [PP], polystyrene [PS] and expanded polystyrene [EPS], polyvinyl chloride [PVC], and other resin types), product type (bottles and jars, trays and containers, caps and closures, intermediate bulk containers [IBCs], drums, pallets, and other product types), end-user industry (food [candy and confectionery, frozen foods, fresh produce, dairy products, dry foods, meat, poultry, and seafood, pet food, and other food products], food service [quick service restaurants {QSRs}, full-service restaurants {FSRs}, coffee and snack outlets, retail establishments, institutional, hospitality, and other food service sectors], beverage, healthcare, cosmetics and personal care, industrial, building and construction, automotive, and other end-user industries), and country (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Rest of GCC). The report offers market sizes and forecasts in volume (tonnes) for all the above segments.