Product Code: 4333
Global demand for bulk packaging is forecast to rise 3.1% yearly to $75.7 billion in 2026, driven by rising manufacturing activity in many key bulk packaging markets, including chemicals, food and beverages, and durable goods. Price inflation, which elevated 2021 value demand, particularly for plastic and steel, is expected to play less of a role through the forecast as raw material costs and supply chains normalize.
Shipping Sacks Remain Largest Product; Intermediate Bulk Containers Increase Market Share
Shipping sacks are forecast to remain the largest product type and are expected to account for nearly 19% of total demand in 2026. This market position is due to their widespread use in the large food and beverage market, where they are used for the transport and storage of commodity products. Healthy gains in food and beverage production globally will support growth.
Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) will be the only product to appreciably increase their share of the market, supported by their performance characteristics:
- The generally cubic shape of IBCs allows for improved stackability and better use of space in warehouses and transport vehicles.
- IBCs do not require extensive additional bulk packaging, such as film wrap or straps.
- IBCs have greater capacity than many drums or shipping sacks.
- IBCs, particularly rigid IBCs, can be reused.
Food & Beverage, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Markets Will Continue to Dominate Demand
In 2026, food, beverage, chemical, and pharmaceutical production will dominate the global bulk packaging market, accounting for over half of global demand:
- In the developed economies of the US and Western Europe, the sheer size of these industries support a significant level of demand for bulk packaging.
- The fastest gains will be seen for the Asia/Pacific region, most notably in India where major chemical and pharmaceutical producers have expanded their manufacturing capacities. China will also continue to have a large impact on the global bulk packaging market, accounting for 28% of global absolute gains through 2026.
Interest in Sustainability Is Leading Companies to Evaluate Their Bulk Packaging Choices
Although the bulk packing industry has not faced the same level of scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of their products as the primary packaging industry, many companies are still examining their bulk packaging through the lens of sustainability in order to help them reach stated goals of improving their environmental footprints. As a result, there is increased demand for products that are either themselves reusable or products that can protect the integrity of other bulk packaging, such as drum liners used in drums. Higher value products made from metal, heavy plastic, and other durable materials stand to benefit from this trend, as their durability allows for frequent reuse by companies. Flexible plastic liners will also see increased use, as they can prevent contamination of products and thereby expand options for their reuse or expand their useful lifespans.
This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $75.7 billion global bulk packaging industry. It presents historical demand data (2011, 2016, and 2021) and forecasts (2026 and 2031) by product (shipping sacks, drums, film wrap, intermediate bulk containers, bulk pails, material handling containers, other bulk packaging) and market (chemical and pharmaceutical; food and beverage; durable goods; agricultural goods; plastic, rubber, and fiber; other markets). The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on the industry competitors including Amcor, Berry Global, Greif, Mauser Packaging Solutions, Mondi, SCHAœTZ, and Signode.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19 General Trends
- Impact on the Economy
- Impact on the Bulk Packaging Industry
3. Overview
- Study Scope
- Historical Trends
- Regional Trends
- Bulk Packaging Product Overview
- Pricing Trends
- Factors Impacting Packaging Demand
- Regulations
- Sustainability Initiatives
- Competitive Shipping Containers
- Reconditioned & Refurbished Packaging
4. Shipping Sacks
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Type & Region
- Paper Shipping Sacks
- Plastic Shipping Sacks
- Textile Shipping Sacks
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
5. Drums
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Product & Region
- Steel Drums
- Plastic Drums
- Fibre Drums
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
6. Film Wrap
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Application & Region
- Pallet Unitization
- Bundling & Overwrap
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
7. Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Type & Region
- Rigid Intermediate Bulk Containers (RIBCs)
- Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs)
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
8. Bulk Pails
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Type & Region
- Plastic Pails
- Steel Pails
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
9. Material Handling Containers
- Scope & Product Description
- Product Trends
- Demand by Type & Region
- Plastic Totes & Crates
- Steel Containers
- Market Trends
- Key Suppliers
10. Other Bulk Packaging
- Demand by Type & Region
- Bulk Boxes
- Scope & Product Description
- Demand Outlook
- Suppliers
- Strapping
- Scope & Product Description
- Demand Outlook
- Suppliers
- Drum, Bin & Box Liners
- Scope & Product Description
- Demand Outlook
- Suppliers
- Paper Roll Wrap & All Other Bulk Packaging
- Scope & Product Description
- Demand Outlook
11. Markets
- Demand by Market
- Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals
- Food & Beverages
- Durable Goods
- Agricultural Products
- Plastic, Rubber, & Fiber
- Other Markets
- Demand Outlook
- Petroleum Products & Other Nondurable Goods
- Nonmanufacturing & All Other Markets
12. North America
- North America: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- North America: Bulk Packaging Products
- North America: Bulk Packaging Markets
- North America: Market Share
- United States
- United States: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- United States: Demand by Product
- United States: Demand by Market
- United States: Key Suppliers
- Canada
- Canada: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Canada: Demand by Product
- Canada: Demand by Market
- Canada: Key Suppliers
- Mexico
- Mexico: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Mexico: Demand by Product
- Mexico: Demand by Market
- Mexico: Key Suppliers
13. Central & South America
- Central & South America: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Central & South America: Bulk Packaging Products
- Central & South America: Bulk Packaging Markets
- Central & South America: Market Share
- Brazil
- Brazil: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Brazil: Demand by Product
- Brazil: Demand by Market
- Brazil: Key Suppliers
- Other Central & South America
- Other Central & South America: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Other Central & South America: Demand by Product
- Other Central & South America: Demand by Market
- Other Central & South America: Key Suppliers
14. Western Europe
- Western Europe: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Western Europe: Bulk Packaging Products
- Western Europe: Bulk Packaging Markets
- Western Europe: Market Share
- Germany
- Germany: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Germany: Demand by Product
- Germany: Demand by Market
- Germany: Key Suppliers
- Italy
- Italy: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Italy: Demand by Product
- Italy: Demand by Market
- Italy: Key Suppliers
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- United Kingdom: Demand by Product
- United Kingdom: Demand by Market
- United Kingdom: Key Suppliers
- France
- France: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- France: Demand by Product
- France: Demand by Market
- France: Key Suppliers
- Spain
- Spain: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Spain: Demand by Product
- Spain: Demand by Market
- Spain: Key Suppliers
- Other Western Europe
- Other Western Europe: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Other Western Europe: Demand by Product
- Other Western Europe: Demand by Market
- Other Western Europe: Key Suppliers
15. Eastern Europe
- Eastern Europe: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Eastern Europe: Bulk Packaging Products
- Eastern Europe: Bulk Packaging Markets
- Eastern Europe: Market Share
- Russia
- Russia: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Russia: Demand by Product
- Russia: Demand by Market
- Russia: Key Suppliers
- Other Eastern Europe
- Other Eastern Europe: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Other Eastern Europe: Demand by Product
- Other Eastern Europe: Demand by Market
- Other Eastern Europe: Key Suppliers
16. Asia/Pacific
- Asia/Pacific: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Asia/Pacific: Bulk Packaging Products
- Asia/Pacific: Bulk Packaging Markets
- Asia/Pacific: Market Share
- China
- China: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- China: Demand by Product
- China: Demand by Market
- China: Key Suppliers
- Japan
- Japan: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Japan: Demand by Product
- Japan: Demand by Market
- Japan: Key Suppliers
- South Korea
- South Korea: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- South Korea: Demand by Product
- South Korea: Demand by Market
- South Korea: Key Suppliers
- Taiwan
- Taiwan: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Taiwan: Demand by Product
- Taiwan: Demand by Market
- Taiwan: Key Suppliers
- India
- India: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- India: Demand by Product
- India: Demand by Market
- India: Key Suppliers
- Other Asia/Pacific
- Other Asia/Pacific: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Other Asia/Pacific: Demand by Product
- Other Asia/Pacific: Demand by Market
- Other Asia/Pacific: Key Suppliers
17. Africa/Mideast
- Africa/Mideast: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Africa/Mideast: Bulk Packaging Products
- Africa/Mideast: Bulk Packaging Markets
- Africa/Mideast: Market Share
- Turkey
- Turkey: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Turkey: Demand by Product
- Turkey: Demand by Market
- Turkey: Key Suppliers
- Other Africa/Mideast
- Other Africa/Mideast: Bulk Packaging Market Size & Historical Trends
- Other Africa/Mideast: Demand by Product
- Other Africa/Mideast: Demand by Market
- Other Africa/Mideast: Key Suppliers
18. Industry Structure
- Key Findings & Industry Composition
- Market Share
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Marketing Strategies
- List of Industry Participants
19. Appendix
- Report Details
- Definitions
- Abbreviations
- Freedonia Methodology
- Study-Specific Methodology
- Data Changes from Previous Version
- Sources
- Associations & Agencies
- Related Studies & Reports
- Country Lists by Region
- Macroeconomic Assumptions
- Economic Environment
- Demographic Trends
- Global Per Capita GDP