Smithers on the future of the global packaging market
A report by Smithers, essential to packaging raw material suppliers, packaging converters and manufacturers, and retailers and brand owners, delves into a comprehensive view of current and future trends in the global packaging market.
04 Nov 2025 | By WhatPackaging? Team
The paper is authored by David Platt, who has extensive experience in the plastics and packaging industries (Image: Tiger Lily)
The Smithers study, authored by David Platt, provides readers with a comprehensive overview of present and future developments in the global packaging market. For instance, Platt writes, “Flexible packaging has benefited from replacing traditional packaging formats such as glass bottles, jars, and metal cans.”
According to the report, the worldwide packaging market is expected to reach USD 1.2-trillion in 2025, assuming constant 2024 pricing and currency rates, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% until 2030.
The report explores how the advanced economies of Western Europe, North America, and Australasia are — in the packaging market — expected to grow sales at lower rates than the worldwide market average through 2030. This results from slower growth and saturated packaging markets.
The study forecasts that the Asian, African, and Middle Eastern growth rates are expected to be significantly higher than the global market average through 2030, owing to the regions’ large and growing populations. In addition, demographic factors such as population increase and age distribution are significantly impacting packaging demand.
The analysis will emphasise the end uses that are expanding the fastest, as well as the trends that are causing this acceleration. The packaging market’s strongest regions will be covered, along with how shifting demographics and economic conditions are affecting the industry, the types of packs that are expected to grow at rates higher and lower than the average global packaging market rate, and which regions are predicted to show the most market volatility.
The paper is authored by David Platt, who has extensive experience in the plastics and packaging industries. He has written over 50 market reports for Smithers, covering topics such as global packaging, rigid plastic packaging, PET packaging, flexible packaging, bioplastics, speciality plastics, high-performance packaging films, pouches, and caps and closures.
This article is based on a Smithers report authored by David Platt.