ASIA-PACIFIC FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PACKAGING MARKET FORECAST 2024-2032

The flexible packaging market in China is experiencing significant growth, driven by the expanding packaged food sector as well as the substantial rates of plastic production. In 2022, China’s packaged food market surpassed the $1 trillion mark, with projections indicating continued growth over the upcoming years. This notable surge is attributed to urbanization, a rising middle class, and increased demand for convenient, lightweight packaging solutions. Additionally, China remains a global leader in plastic production, accounting for 32% of worldwide plastic materials. The abundant availability of plastic as a raw material supports the production of flexible packaging, further propelling market expansion. Consequently, the synergy between a booming packaged food industry and robust plastic production is expected to drive sustained growth in China’s flexible packaging market.

On the other hand, the flexible packaging market in India is experiencing significant growth, driven by strategic investments and innovations from key industry players. For instance, Huhtamaki India Ltd, a pioneer in flexible packaging since 1935, offers a wide portfolio of packaging solutions, including flexible packaging, labeling technologies, specialized cartons, and tube laminates. With fifteen state-of-the-art, fully integrated manufacturing facilities across India, the company closely collaborates with clients from product inception to the supermarket, providing total packaging solutions. 

Furthermore, Michelman, a United States-based company, has established the Michelman Innovation Centre for Coatings (MICC) in Mumbai. This facility serves as a packaging incubator, allowing all members of the packaging value chain to participate in the design and production of sustainable packaging. The MICC is equipped with advanced equipment for barrier testing, lamination, and improving both the physical and chemical properties of coatings, facilitating the development of innovative and environmentally friendly flexible packaging solutions. These factors, in turn, are positioned to boost the flexible plastic packaging market growth in the region during the forecast period. 

The Asia-Pacific flexible plastic packaging market segmentation includes material, type, printing technology, and application. The printing technology segment is further classified into flexography, rotogravure, digital printing, and other printing technologies.

Flexography printing technology utilizes flexographic inks to print on various flexible packaging materials, including corrugated cardboard, plastic and paper bags, newspapers, food packaging, catalogs, and more. It supports a wide range of materials like PVC, stand-up pouches, flat pouches, roll stock, gusseted bags, wicketed bags, and wraps. Flexography offers key advantages, such as fast-drying inks and the ability to print on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Its straightforward plate-manufacturing process enables high-volume image production with a single template, making it ideal for continuous image patterns and large-scale printing.

On the other hand, rotogravure is a printing process where the image is engraved onto a cylinder and transferred to flexible packaging materials via a rotary press. This technology ensures superior print quality by using a dedicated cylinder for each color in the desired image. Key features include the ability to handle large production volumes while maintaining cost-efficiency and high-quality output. Its reliability, exceptional print quality, and economic advantages make rotogravure printing widely adopted, driving growth in the market for flexible packaging solutions.

Some of the top players operating in the Asia-Pacific flexible plastic packaging market are Sealed Air Corporation, Graphic Packaging International LLC, Huhtamaki, etc.

Sealed Air Corporation, headquartered in the United States, delivers food safety, security, and product protection solutions globally through its Food Care and Product Care segments. The Food Care segment focuses on contamination risk management, extending shelf life, and improving food preparation and merchandising through brands like Cryovac Grip & Tear, Darfresh, Mirabella, and Optidure. It also provides integrated equipment systems, flexible packaging materials for medical and pharmaceutical use, and services such as graphic design, training, and diagnostics. The Product Care segment, on the other hand, offers packaging solutions, including Bubble Wrap, AirCap, Instapak, Jiffy, and innovative systems like I-Pack and E-Cube, catering to diverse packaging needs.