Saudi Arabia Hazmat Packaging Market Overview, 2030

Saudi Arabia’s hazmat packaging landscape is rapidly evolving under a tightening regulatory and environmental agenda. The Kingdom’s GSO has formally aligned national chemical classification and labeling standards (GSO/TC01/DS/GSO2654:2023) with GHS 7, mandating bilingual (Arabic‑English) labels and Safety Data Sheet compliance across hazardous substances a shift expected to become mandatory following legislative adoption. Concurrently, the newly approved Product Safety Law and Standards & Quality Law, effective by early 2025, impose rigorous obligations on producers and importers to ensure product risk assessments, hazard labeling, traceability, and timely recall processes; noncompliance may trigger major fines or business closure . Environmental pressures are further amplified by Saudi Arabia’s 2021 Waste Management Law, which requires extended producer responsibility (EPR) for hazardous materials, mandatory recycling or reuse protocols, and stricter packaging labeling and transport rules for hazardous waste handlers. These reforms are amplifying demand for UN‑compliant drums, IBCs, and fiberboard over packs with lifecycle traceability especially in industrial centers such as Jubail, Yanbu, and Riyadh, where petrochemical expansion and battery‑materials clusters are accelerating under Vision 2030 initiatives. Industry participants are responding by investing in digital capabilities such as national hazardous materials oversight platforms that offer real-time shipment tracking and licensing verification and deeper corporate ESG integrations to align with Saudi standards and circular economy objectives.

According to the research report “Saudi Arabia Hazmat Packaging Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Hazmat Packaging market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.14% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. SCHÜTZ has partnered with National Plastic Factory Company (NPF) to establish a new ECOBULK IBC production facility near Dammam, licensed to manufacture 1,000 L UN-certified composite IBCs for Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. Set to begin deliveries in 2026, the project localizes IBC supply for chemical, oil, lubricant, and food sectors. SCHÜTZ will supply original equipment and components, while NPF handles local production and distribution infrastructure. Simultaneously, Hotpack Global, a UAE-based packaging company, signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry & Minerals to invest SAR 1 billion (~USD 266 million) in a new eco-focused packaging plant. While primarily targeting food and retail packaging, the facility underscores national interest in sustainable packaging and may create crossover opportunities in industrial hazmat logistics. Industry observers highlight Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on circular economy and upstream petrochem expansion. Braskem style biopolymer initiatives and local recyclate partnerships are being encouraged by the Kingdom’s regulatory bodies to reduce plastic waste across supply chains, including hazardous goods packaging. These developments reflect Saudi Arabia’s strategic pivot toward localized, sustainable, and high-integrity hazmat packaging systems, strengthening compliance-ready IBC and drum production while aligning with environmental objectives. The partnership between SCHÜTZ and NPF alone signals a major shift in reducing reliance on imported containers and expanding regional capacity for compliant packaging across petrochemical logistics and export supply chains.

In Saudi Arabia, hazmat packaging demand is driven by large-scale industrial operations in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and energy. Drums particularly steel and HDPE are the most widely used packaging format for flammable, corrosive, and volatile materials. Common in Jubail and Yanbu industrial zones, steel drums are preferred for petrochemicals and lubricants, while HDPE drums are favored for agricultural chemicals and cleaning agents. Reconditioning of steel drums is gaining policy support under the Waste Management Law and Vision 2030 circular economy initiatives. Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are expanding rapidly in use, especially among chemical exporters and lubricant producers. The recent joint venture between SCHÜTZ and National Plastic Factory Company to localize IBC production near Dammam marks a significant industry shift reducing import dependency and improving supply chain responsiveness for UN-certified IBCs. Pails and bottles serve sectors with smaller quantity needs, including pharmaceuticals, automotive fluids, and specialty chemicals. These are mostly produced using injection-molded HDPE or PP, and feature tamper-evident closures and bilingual hazard labeling. Saudi Arabia’s GHS 7 alignment mandates precise packaging, especially in pharma and consumer-facing products. Cartons and boxes are used for over packing and air-freight transport. They are essential for securing smaller hazmat units during shipment, especially for pharmaceutical and laboratory goods exported from Riyadh and Jeddah. Flexi tanks, while widely used for edible oils and other non-hazardous liquids, are generally restricted for hazmat use due to IMDG and ADR limitations. However, hybrid multilayer tanks with improved containment properties are being explored for export under controlled conditions, particularly from eastern port terminals.

In Saudi Arabia, the hazmat packaging market is deeply integrated with the Kingdom’s industrial backbone, with demand concentrated across five key end-user sectors. The chemicals and petrochemicals segment is the largest consumer, driven by major hubs like Jubail and Yanbu, which house global-scale operations such as SABIC, Tasnee, and Sadara. These sites produce solvents, resins, and specialty chemicals requiring UN-certified drums, IBCs, and overpacks. The local adoption of GHS-aligned labeling and rigid export protocols has increased the need for precision-engineered hazmat packaging solutions.The automobile sector, while smaller compared to manufacturing-heavy countries, is experiencing growth through localization initiatives and rising demand for aftermarket parts. Hazardous materials such as lubricants, battery acid, and coatings are distributed in smaller HDPE bottles, pails, and corrugated secondary packaging particularly within logistics hubs in Riyadh and Dammam. The oil & gas sector remains a core end-user. Saudi Aramco’s upstream and downstream activities require heavy-duty metal drums, IBCs, and secure containment for hydraulic fluids, corrosive additives, and production chemicals. Remote site logistics also necessitate stackable, weather-resistant packaging with high impact resistance. Pharmaceutical manufacturing, focused in the Riyadh and Jeddah regions, contributes to hazmat packaging demand through regulated containment of APIs, reagents, and waste materials. Compliance with SFDA guidelines and upcoming EPR policies are prompting wider use of tamper-proof, recyclable HDPE formats. In the agricultural sector, packaging for pesticides, herbicides, and fumigants is rising with expanding domestic cultivation initiatives. Leak-proof bottles, QR-coded drums, and child-resistant caps are increasingly adopted, particularly in Al-Qassim and Asir, where agri-chemical usage is intensive.

In Saudi Arabia, material selection in hazmat packaging is largely driven by the nature of the hazardous substance, regulatory requirements, environmental resistance, and evolving sustainability mandates. Plastics especially high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) are the dominant material choice due to their chemical resistance, moldability, and cost-efficiency. These polymers are heavily used in the manufacture of drums, pails, IBC linings, and bottles. With strong local production from players like SABIC and Advanced Petrochemical Company, Saudi Arabia benefits from a reliable supply of resin feedstock, making plastic packaging more localized and cost-competitive. The growing emphasis on circular economy and waste reduction is also pushing firms to incorporate post-consumer recycled content into industrial packaging formats. Metals, predominantly carbon steel and stainless steel, are vital for high-risk applications especially in the petrochemical and oil & gas industries. Steel drums and pressure-rated containers are used for flammable, corrosive, and reactive chemicals. These containers offer exceptional durability and reusability, with an emerging reconditioning sector gaining traction in the Eastern Province under the Waste Management Law’s push for lifecycle compliance and reduced landfill dependency. Corrugated paper, though limited to secondary and tertiary packaging, plays a key role in safeguarding smaller primary hazmat containers during transport and export. UN-rated fiberboard boxes with moisture-resistant coatings and shock-absorbing inserts are increasingly used, especially for pharma and specialty chemical shipments. With growing exports to Europe and North America, Saudi firms are under pressure to adopt FSC-certified and recyclable paper packaging that meets international sustainability benchmarks without compromising on hazard classification compliance.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Hazmat Packaging Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product Type
• Drums
• Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
• Pails
• Bottles
• Cartons & Boxes
• Flexi Tanks
• Others

By End-Users
• Chemicals & Petrochemicals
• Automobile
• Oil & Gas
• Pharmaceutical
• Agricultural
• Others

By Material Type
• Plastics
• Corrugated Paper
• Metals
• Others
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