Market Trends of Morocco Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry
Pouches Segment to Register the Highest Growth
- Urbanization and rising disposable incomes are reshaping Morocco's retail landscape as consumers grappling with increasingly hectic lifestyles turn to on-the-go packaged foods. These include snacks, candies, and baked goods, often housed in stand-up pouches crafted from a blend of plastic films, notably polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
- The country's expanding pet population, now estimated at 2.65 million in 2023 (up from 2.54 million the previous year, as per GlobalPETS), is fueling a surge in demand for stand-up pouches, especially for pet food storage. These pouches, typically lined with metalized films, provide superior barrier protection and extend pet food's shelf life, amplifying their appeal in Morocco's pet food market.
- Moroccans increasingly favor powdered drinks like tea and coffee, driving the market for pouches with zippers significantly. These zipped pouches are gaining traction for their convenience, resealability, and premium aesthetic. In 2023, Morocco imported tea and coffee products worth USD 31.6 million from India, according to the Foreign Exchange Office.
- Meanwhile, Morocco's healthcare sector is on an upward trajectory, offering lucrative export opportunities. India, for instance, exported pharmaceutical products worth USD 18.94 million to Morocco in 2023, as highlighted by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The demand for pharmaceutical pouches and bags in Morocco is surging, driven by their role in safeguarding medications during storage, transport, and handling.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
Download PDF
Food Industry Expected to Dominate the Market
- Morocco's plastic packaging industry is experiencing a significant boost, driven by a combination of factors such as a burgeoning population, evolving consumer food preferences, and a notable uptick in food exports. As a pivotal player in the African market, Morocco's strategic trade position is underscored by its well-developed ports, roads, and rail systems. Notably, its duty-free import arrangement with the United States further bolsters the nation's trade infrastructure.
- Urban centers like Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, and Tangier are witnessing a cultural shift, with data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlighting a trend of more women joining the workforce and families increasingly embracing Western lifestyles. This shift is reflected in their food choices, with a growing preference for ready-to-eat and semi-processed foods. As a result, there is a rising demand for flexible plastic packaging solutions, including pouches, bags, and wraps.
- Local manufacturers, like Hotpack Industries LLC, are stepping up to meet this surging demand. Players in the market are offering a range of flexible food packaging solutions, from trays and containers to bags, films, and wraps crafted from materials like PET, PP, and PE.
- Furthermore, the influx of packaged goods, including chocolates, sauces, and frozen foods, is bolstering Morocco's food retail sector. In January 2023 alone, data from the USDA reveals that Morocco imported bakery goods, cereals, pasta (worth USD 11.91 million), and dairy products (worth USD 75.06 million) from across the globe, further fueling the market’s growth.
