
Global Corrugated Boxes
Description
Global Corrugated Boxes
Global demand for corrugated boxes is expected to rise 2.6% per year to 296 billion square meters in 2027, valued at $319 billion. Growth will be driven in part by a rapid rise in demand for e-commerce packaging as online purchases continue to rise globally. However, further gains will be limited by growing concerns about packaging waste and excess corrugated box usage – most notably in the e-commerce market – and competition from flexible packaging and other alternatives.
E-Commerce Drives Demand But Also Introduces Challenges for Corrugated Boxes
By 2022, demand for corrugated boxes in the global e-commerce market grew to nearly five times the level seen in 2012. Growth will remain robust as e-commerce increases its share of retail sales, with demand rising 10% annually. Demand will be driven by the US and the Asia/Pacific region, which combined will account for 71% of absolute gains.
While e-commerce has become a significant market for corrugated boxes, the forward-facing nature of e-commerce secondary packaging has caused consumers to take greater notice of the type of packaging in which an item has been shipped. These concerns – ranging from the environmental impact of packaging to the excess waste it generates – will serve as a check against even greater demand gains.
Sustainability Concerns Will Continue to Impact the Corrugated Box Market
Despite the perceived sustainability of corrugated boxes – they are the most commonly recycled packaging type, and on average new boxes contain around 50% recycled fiber – there remain ongoing concerns about the impact that boxes have on the environment and the amount of unnecessary packaging that can result from using corrugated boxes for e-commerce. This has invited competition from other packaging formats:
Study Description
This Freedonia industry study analyzes the 263 billion square foot global corrugated box industry. It presents historical demand data (2012, 2017, and 2022) and forecasts (2027 and 2032) by region (North America, Central and South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Africa/Mideast) and market (food and beverage, nonfood nondurable goods, e-commerce, and other markets). Containerboard demand, production, and trade are also covered. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors, including DS Smith, International Paper, Smurfit Kappa, WestRock, and Xiamen Hexing Packaging.
Global demand for corrugated boxes is expected to rise 2.6% per year to 296 billion square meters in 2027, valued at $319 billion. Growth will be driven in part by a rapid rise in demand for e-commerce packaging as online purchases continue to rise globally. However, further gains will be limited by growing concerns about packaging waste and excess corrugated box usage – most notably in the e-commerce market – and competition from flexible packaging and other alternatives.
E-Commerce Drives Demand But Also Introduces Challenges for Corrugated Boxes
By 2022, demand for corrugated boxes in the global e-commerce market grew to nearly five times the level seen in 2012. Growth will remain robust as e-commerce increases its share of retail sales, with demand rising 10% annually. Demand will be driven by the US and the Asia/Pacific region, which combined will account for 71% of absolute gains.
While e-commerce has become a significant market for corrugated boxes, the forward-facing nature of e-commerce secondary packaging has caused consumers to take greater notice of the type of packaging in which an item has been shipped. These concerns – ranging from the environmental impact of packaging to the excess waste it generates – will serve as a check against even greater demand gains.
Sustainability Concerns Will Continue to Impact the Corrugated Box Market
Despite the perceived sustainability of corrugated boxes – they are the most commonly recycled packaging type, and on average new boxes contain around 50% recycled fiber – there remain ongoing concerns about the impact that boxes have on the environment and the amount of unnecessary packaging that can result from using corrugated boxes for e-commerce. This has invited competition from other packaging formats:
- Flexible packaging has benefited from concerns over excess packaging. For instance, mailers have seen increasing use for smaller, less fragile items such as books and clothing.
- E-commerce-ready packaging, in which the primary packaging for an item is designed to serve as its shipping container, thus eliminating any secondary packaging, has also risen in popularity. In some cases, more traditionally packaged items are shipped without using any secondary packaging.
Study Description
This Freedonia industry study analyzes the 263 billion square foot global corrugated box industry. It presents historical demand data (2012, 2017, and 2022) and forecasts (2027 and 2032) by region (North America, Central and South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Africa/Mideast) and market (food and beverage, nonfood nondurable goods, e-commerce, and other markets). Containerboard demand, production, and trade are also covered. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors, including DS Smith, International Paper, Smurfit Kappa, WestRock, and Xiamen Hexing Packaging.
Table of Contents
417 Pages
- Figure 1-1 Global Corrugated Boxes Market Outlook
- COVID-19 General Trends
- Impact on the Economy
- Impact on the Corrugated Box Industry
- Study Scope
- Historical Trends
- Regional Trends
- Pricing Trends
- Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Other Corrugated Box Materials
- Sustainability
- Recyclability
- Packaging & Material Bans
- Competitive Products & Technologies
- E-Commerce Packaging Trends
- Retail-Ready Packaging
- Legal & Regulatory Environment
- Demand by Market
- Food & Beverage
- Nonfood Nondurable Goods
- E-Commerce
- Other Markets
- North America: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- North America: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- North America: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- North America: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- North America: Corrugated Box Market Share
- United States
- Mexico
- Canada
- Central & South America: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- Central & South America: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- Central & South America: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- Central & South America: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Central & South America: Corrugated Box Market Share
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Other Central & South America
- Western Europe: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- Western Europe: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- Western Europe: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- Western Europe: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Western Europe: Corrugated Box Market Share
- Germany
- Italy
- France
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Other Western Europe
- Eastern Europe: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- Eastern Europe: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- Eastern Europe: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- Eastern Europe: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Eastern Europe: Corrugated Box Market Share
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Asia/Pacific: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- Asia/Pacific: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- Asia/Pacific: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- Asia/Pacific: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Asia/Pacific: Corrugated Box Market Share
- China
- Japan
- India
- South Korea
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Taiwan
- Philippines
- Australia
- Malaysia
- Other Asia/Pacific
- Africa/Mideast: Corrugated Box Market Size & Historical Trends
- Africa/Mideast: Corrugated Box Supply & Demand
- Africa/Mideast: Corrugated Box Demand by Market
- Africa/Mideast: Containerboard Supply & Demand
- Africa/Mideast: Corrugated Box Market Share
- Turkey
- South Africa
- Other Africa/Mideast
- Key Findings & Industry Composition
- Corrugated Box Market Share
- Containerboard Market Share
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Manufacturing
- List of Industry Participants
- Report Details
- Definitions
- Abbreviations
- Freedonia Methodology
- Study-Specific Methodology
- Sources
- Associations & Agencies
- Related Studies & Reports
- Country Lists by Region
- Macroeconomic Assumptions
Pricing
Currency Rates
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