Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market Size & Share 2019 - 2025
Market Size by Source (Virgin, Recycled), by Material (Glass, Metal, Plastic [Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polystyrene (PS), Polyamide 6 (PA6), Polyamide 6 copolymer (PA6 Copolymer), Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)], Paper & Paperboard, Wood), by Product (Rigid Packaging [Oxygen Barrier, Moisture Barrier, Other Barrier, Non-Barrier], Flexible Packaging [Oxygen Barrier, Moisture Barrier, Other Barrier, Non-Barrier]), by Layer (Single Layer, Multi-Layer), by Visibility (Transparent, Opaque/Translucent), by Sterilization (High Temperature treatment, Low temperature treatment, Vacuum treatment, Non-sterilized treatment), by Technology (Retort Packaging, Aseptic Packaging, Active Packaging), Industry Analysis Report, Country Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast.
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Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market Size
Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market size was valued at over USD 125 billion in 2018 and is estimated to exhibit over 4.5% CAGR from 2019 to 2025.
The e-commerce platform in the food industry has gained a significant acceptance in the region. This is because, it not only provides a wide range of food products but also ensures timely delivery of these products with appropriate packaging. Therefore, with the rise of e-commerce, the demand for food packaging is likely to increase. This is because proper and advanced packaging not only maintains the quality of the product but also increases its shelf life. Moreover, it also allows manufacturers to maintain proper inventory with an adequate lead time for the next supply of perishable food products. In addition to this, the packaging also plays a vital role from the distributors’ side of the value chain by maintaining the quality of the manufactured food for a longer duration and better transportation. The packaging food industries comprise companies that pack food in different types of materials including paperboard, glass, plastic, wood, and aluminum canning for retail sales.
Food packing includes packaging of flavored snacks, confections such as candy & chocolate, bread & cakes, cereals & oatmeal, meat & seafood, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and condiments; for instance, ketchup and this category also comprises ready-to-eat packaged meals. Thus, food packing has increased the demand for food through internet retail spending. The current social & economic trends for processed & packed food consumption have witnessed a sharp growth over the past few years. The consumption of packaged breakfast cereals and different meals has surged over the years, providing a humongous growth in the packaged food industry.
Sizable economies in the region including China, India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea have set several regulations in order to monitor the quality and safety of packed food products. Regulations in these countries mainly emphasize on food quality, safety, and packaging norms. Food safety law, regulation for food contact materials, and food sanitation law are among the most commonly followed food regulations across the region, ensuring food safety in order to protect the physical health and life safety of the public. Similarly, stringent regulations toward food packaging and food contact materials may restrict growth in the food packing market over the near term. For instance, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2019, announced new regulations with respect to food packing, which stresses the importance of packaging materials used for packing food.
Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market Analysis
Virgin food packing products are manufactured directly from various raw materials and have never been used before for any purpose, including packaging. Recycled packaging is manufactured from various recycled materials and passes strict norms to be used as food packaging material. Virgin food packaging accounts for more than 70% volume share in the overall market and is likely to expanding with the significant rate in the coming years. Virgin packaging material is the initial primary source for all types of food packing materials such as plastic, metal, glass, paper & paperboard and wood. Furthermore, high durability of virgin products on the molecular level will increase its demand over the forecast spell.
Asia Pacific food packaging market based on the type of material used is classified into glass, metal, plastic, paper & paperboard and wood. Plastic dominates the revenue segment with the market share of more than 50% in 2018. This is due to its rising demand in food packing sector. Moreover, its durability, flexibility and ability to resist to external influences makes it favorable for food packing. Furthermore, high versatility of plastic makes it easier to recycle and reuse several times based on the requirements.
The Asia pacific food packaging market on the basis of technology is grouped into retort packaging, aseptic packaging, active packaging, and others. Retort packaging is the fastest growing packaging technology, which accounts for over USD 8 billion of the overall revenue in 2018. Owing to low manufacturing cost that uses laminates of flexible plastic and metal foils. Furthermore, convenient transportation and storage due to its lightweight nature will propel its demand by 2025.
China to dominate regional consumption
China is the largest market for food packing that accounts nearly 50% of share in the regional market. This can be credited to the presence of major manufacturers across the region. Moreover, improving lifestyle and consumer spending towards packaged food will further augment product demand in the region. India, Japan and South Korea, are among the fastest growing countries for food packing market owing to the shifting consumer preference to opt for such foods that are instant food making solutions and offers ideal nutritional value that meets their requirements. Additionally, improving lifestyle and consumer spending towards packaged food products will further augment the market demand.
Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market Share
The Asia Pacific food packaging market share is competitive in nature due to the presence of a few medium & large industry players operating in the comprehensive market. Several multinational corporations hold a significant share in the market. However, the majority of the market share is highly fragmented among the regional & small-scale manufacturers. For instance, in October 2018, Mondi PLC. introduced an innovative sustainable solution along with the next generation Bag-in-Box technical films for fruit juice, wine, or dairy products.
are some of the major revenue contributors in the overall market.
Industry Segmentation:
Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market, By Source
APAC Food Packaging Market, By Material
APAC Food Packaging Market, By Product
Asia Pacific Food Packaging Market Forecast By Layer
APAC Food Packaging Market Analysis By Visibility
Market Analysis By Sterilization
Market Trends By Technology
The above information is provided on a country basis for the following:
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
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Verified data sources
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Government procurement records and policy documents
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GMI archive
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Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →