| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Volume (2025) | 5.92 Million metric tons |
| Market Volume (2030) | 7.26 Million metric tons |
| CAGR | 4.18 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market Analysis
The Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of shipment volume is expected to grow from 5.92 million metric tons in 2025 to 7.26 million metric tons by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.18% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- As consumer preferences increasingly lean towards health-conscious and sustainable products, and with evolving regulations in the Middle East and Africa, professionals in plastic packaging are feeling the pressure to innovate. They are adjusting materials, designs, and technologies to align with these shifting demands.
- The beverage sector, buoyed by a rise in bottled water and soft drink consumption, emerges as the dominant end-user of plastic packaging. A recent study by researchers from the UAE and Egypt unveiled a striking trend: even with the UAE's stringent municipal water quality standards, over 80% of participants opted for bottled plain drinking water.
- Oxo-degradable plastics are on the rise. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Ghana, and Togo, are not only endorsing oxo-degradable plastics but some have even made their use mandatory.
- With East and West Africa witnessing booming domestic economies, a surge in consumer markets, rising incomes, and a youthful demographic, the continent is emerging as a pivotal hub for the plastic packaging industry.
- Regional government agencies are backing projects aimed at curbing carbon emissions and energy consumption, signaling a positive outlook for the market. For example, in February 2024, Qatar's Ministry of Municipality (MoM) began offering recyclable materials at no cost to local recycling factories, underscoring their commitment to sustainability and a circular economy.
- In another move, December 2023 saw the Alliance to End Plastic Waste ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) in Dubai. This strategic collaboration is set to roll out effective waste management solutions in Saudi Arabia, specifically addressing challenges linked to certain plastics.
- New materials, set to gradually take the place of conventional plastics, present a challenge for market vendors. Furthermore, growing environmental concerns and a rising demand for sustainable packaging, such as those crafted from paper, could pose hurdles to the market's growth.
Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market Trends
Flexible Packaging is Expected to Witness Significant Growth
- Countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are primarily fueling the rising demand for pharmaceutical packaging in the Middle East and Africa. This emphasis and a growing demand for flexible plastic solutions, particularly pouches across various industries, propel the market's expansion.
- With a rising demand for structured packaging, the sector is poised for significant volume growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, as meat and dairy consumption increases, so will the demand for plastic packaging. All these factors contribute to the burgeoning market for flexible plastic packaging.
- Middle Eastern manufacturers of plastic bags and pouches are expected to benefit from access to cost-effective feedstock and raw materials, such as crude oil and polypropylene. This advantage bolsters the local production of plastic pouches and their use in e-commerce.
- The changing consumer food preferences in the United Arab Emirates have created significant growth opportunities in the packaging industry, especially for the food and beverage industry. According to report by Alpen Capital, a financial institute in United Arab Emirates, the food industry in the Middle East and African region is estimated to grow due to its strategic location and region’s growing population. Post-pandemic, the surge in online food delivery has enhanced the demand for flexible packaging such as wraps, sleeves , labels and others, which is driving industry growth.
- Additionally, growth in the food processing industry in the country drives the demand for plastic packaging. Around 568 food and beverage processors operate across the United Arab Emirates, producing 5.96 million metric tonnes annually, boosting the demand for plastic packaging in the country. Also, the rise in the food service industry in the country due to a boost in tourism, changing consumer preferences, and the growing spending capacity of the population is likely to boost the market growth in the coming years.
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Saudi Arabia is Expected to Witness Significant Growth
- Saudi Arabia stands out as a dominant player in the Middle Eastern packaging industry. Beyond its renowned oil and gas sector, the nation boasts a diverse array of industrial activities, fueling a surging annual demand for plastic packaging.
- In light of declining global crude oil prices, Saudi Arabia recognizes the imperative to bolster its non-oil sector. To this end, the nation has rolled out several initiatives and regulatory reforms, including the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and Vision 2030, aiming to amplify industrial production.
- Saudi Arabia leads the GCC in plastic consumption. Recent GPCA estimates highlight a per capita plastic consumption exceeding 95 kg, underscoring its position as the GCC's top plastic consumer. Additionally, a growing embrace of Western culture, spurred by tourism and educational pursuits, is poised to further energize the market. The burgeoning popularity of food malls and courts further underscores this growth trajectory.
- Furthermore, the ready-to-eat meals and frozen food segment offers prepared food that requires minimal or no preparation before consumption. This segment is gaining popularity in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, due to the fast-paced urban lifestyle and diverse cultural influences.
- The Saudi Arabian market for processed meat, seafood, and meat alternatives is experiencing growth. In 2023, the market volume was approximately 1,499.10 metric tons. Projections indicate an increase to about 1,839.50 metric tons by 2027, reflecting the country's changing and growing consumer preferences for processed meat.
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Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Industry Overview
The Middle East and Africa Plastic Packaging Market is fragmented in nature, with multiple players in the market operating regionally. The major vendors in the market adopt strategies such as product innovation and partnerships, among others, to expand their reach and stay competitive in the market. Some of the major players in the market are SABIC, Zamil Plastic Industries Co., and Huhtamaki Flexibles UAE (Huhtamaki Oyj), National Plastic Factory LLC, Napco Group (Napco National), among others.
Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market Leaders
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SABIC - Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
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Huhtamaki Flexibles UAE (Huhtamaki Oyj)
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National Plastic Factory LLC
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Napco Group (Napco National)
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Zamil Plastic Industries Co.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market News
- August 2024: Hotpack Global, a prominent food packaging company headquartered in the UAE, has announced its ambitious plan to set up one of the world's largest sustainable packaging plants in Saudi Arabia, backed by an estimated investment of SAR 1 billion (~USD 270 million). Hotpack has been aggressively expanding, utilizing both acquisitions and greenfield projects. Recently, Hotpack launched its largest manufacturing facility in Dubai's National Industries Park, focusing on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) packaging products.
- April 2024: Alpla Group, an Austrian firm specializing in plastic packaging and recycling, has partnered with South Africa's Re-Purpose to bolster the recycling of polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastics in the region. Alpla is investing USD 65 million to set up a PET reprocessing facility in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal province. The facility is being constructed on a vast 22-acre site, and operations are set to commence in 2025, with an annual output of over 35,000 metric tons of recycled PET (rPET).
Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Industry Segmentation
Plastic packaging is a part of the multi-faceted system for providing products, from the point of manufacture to the point of consumption. Its principal purpose is to guard and ensure the safe and secure delivery of the product in the flawless and perfect condition to the end user (manufacturer of product or consumer). Its role in a circular economy is to sustain the value of a product for as long as required and to help remove product waste.
The Middle East and Africa plastic packaging industry outlook is segmented into rigid plastic packaging (by material type (polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other material types), product (bottles and jars, trays and containers, caps and closures and other products), end-user industry (food, beverage, healthcare, cosmetics and personal care, household care, e-commerce and other end-user industries). It is also segmented into flexible plastic packaging (by material type (polyethylene (PE), bi-orientated polypropylene (BOPP), cast polypropylene (CPP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and other material types), product type (pouches, bags, films and wraps, and other product types), end-user industry (food, beverage, cosmetics and personal care, healthcare, and other end-user industry) and country (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa). The market sizing and forecasts are provided in terms of volume in tons for all the above segments.
| Rigid Plastic Packaging | By Material Type | Polyethylene (PE) | |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | |||
| Polypropylene (PP) | |||
| Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) | |||
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | |||
| Other Material Types | |||
| By Product Type | Bottles and Jars | ||
| Trays and containers | |||
| Caps and Closures | |||
| Other Product Types | |||
| By End-User Industry | Food | ||
| Beverage | |||
| Healthcare | |||
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | |||
| Household Care | |||
| Other End-User Industries (Industrial, E-Commerce, Among Others) | |||
| Flexible Plastic Packaging | By Material Type | Polyethylene (PE) | |
| Bi-Orientated Polypropylene (BOPP) | |||
| Cast Polypropylene (CPP) | |||
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | |||
| Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) | |||
| Other Material Types | |||
| By Product Type | Pouches | ||
| Bags | |||
| Films & Wraps | |||
| Other Product Types | |||
| By End-User Industry | Food | ||
| Beverage | |||
| Healthcare | |||
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | |||
| Household Care | |||
| Other End-User Industries (Industrial, E-Commerce, Among Others) | |||
| By Country | United Arab Emirates | ||
| Saudi Arabia | |||
| Egypt | |||
| South Africa | |||
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Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market Research Faqs
How big is the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market?
The Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size is expected to reach 5.92 million metric tons in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 4.18% to reach 7.26 million metric tons by 2030.
What is the current Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size?
In 2025, the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size is expected to reach 5.92 million metric tons.
Who are the key players in Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market?
SABIC - Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Huhtamaki Flexibles UAE (Huhtamaki Oyj), National Plastic Factory LLC, Napco Group (Napco National) and Zamil Plastic Industries Co. are the major companies operating in the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market.
What years does this Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size was estimated at 5.67 million metric tons. The report covers the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Middle East And Africa Plastic Packaging analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
