Packaging Strategies logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Packaging Strategies logo
  • FEATURED
    • Brand Packaging
    • Extended Producer Responsibility
    • New Products & Materials
      • Featured Products
    • Packaging News
    • Packaging Perspectives Podcasts
    • Steve Fairfield Innovation Award
    • Supply Side
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Packaging Companies
      • Submit Your Company
  • FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
  • VERTICAL MARKETS
    • Beer / Wine / Spirits Packaging
    • Beverage Packaging
    • Candy / Confectionery
    • Dairy Food Packaging
    • FoodService Packaging
    • Household Packaging
    • Meat / Seafood Packaging
    • Personal Care Packaging
    • Pet Food Packaging
    • Pharma / Medical Packaging
    • Produce Packaging
    • Snack Food Packaging
  • MATERIALS
    • Adhesives / Sealants
    • Beverage Multipacks
    • Blister Packaging
    • Cans & Bottles
    • Closures/Lids
    • Films & Coatings
    • Labels
    • Material Converting
    • Paperboard / Corrugated / Cartons
    • Rigid Containers
    • Sustainable Packaging
  • MACHINERY
    • Automation / Controls
    • Case Forming / Packing / Sealing
    • Cartoning
    • Coding / Marking / Printing
    • Conveyors
    • Form-Fill-Seal / Filling & Closing
    • Inspection / Detection / Vision
    • Labeling
    • Unitizing / Palletizing
    • Robotics
    • Track & Trace / Serialization
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Packaging Strategies Resource Guide
    • Flexible Packaging Buyer's Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Converters Expo
    • Converters Expo South
    • Global Pouch Forum
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
  • MORE
    • Videos
    • Book Store
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • eXTRA Newsletter
    • Market Research
    • PACKSTRAT Wordplay
    • PS Resource Guide
    • Sponsor Insights
  • EMAG
    • eMagazines
    • Archived Issues
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Packaging News

World demand for bulk packaging to grow 5.8% annually

November 22, 2011

Worldwide demand for bulk packaging is projected to rise 5.8 percent per year to $56.0 billion in 2015. Advances will be driven by growth in manufacturing activity, especially in key end-user industries such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. Film wrap demand will see the fastest gains, benefiting from growing requirements for the bundling and protection of goods during warehousing and distribution. Demand for film wrap will also be bolstered by retail trends, as a greater number of retailers offer a broad range of goods packaged in bulk and utilize secondary packaging for product warehousing and multipack bundling.  

That’s according to World Bulk Packaging Market a new report at Reportlinker.com.  

Shipping sacks to remain largest segment  

Although shipping sacks will continue to represent the largest product type, shipping sack demand will exhibit below average growth through the forecast period and beyond. Strong price competition and increasing use of alternative products -- such as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) and various rigid bulk packaging types, including material handling containers and drums -- will serve to limit gains in shipping sack demand. Demand for drums will benefit from an upswing in global chemical and pharmaceutical production, as chemicals comprise by far the leading application for drums. Growth in pail demand will be slightly below average, due to competition from other packaging formats, including drums, bulk boxes and shipping sacks. Plastic pails will experience faster gains than their steel counterparts as a result of their lighter weight, which substantially reduces shipping expenses.  

Strong growth in Asia, but US to remain leading market  

The most rapid gains will be seen in the world's developing regions. The Asia/ Pacific region will remain the largest regional market in the world, due to its large food and beverage, and chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Overall, the fastest growth will be seen in Asia, specifically in China, India and Indonesia. Other developing countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Russia are also expected to see healthy gains. In contrast, advances will be generally below average in North America and Western Europe, where markets are more established.  

The US, which accounted for 27 percent of global sales in 2010, is the largest national bulk packaging market in the world by a wide margin. Other large, but mature markets include Japan and Germany. While Japan will remain one of the largest national markets in the world, the country is forecast to see the slowest growth rate through 2015. Nonetheless, good opportunities will still be found in developed countries, especially for flexible bulk packaging products such as film wrap.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Golden award trophy in the shape of a star. Text: 2026 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies

    Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

    Celebrating 30 years as a B2B journalist, I’ve revisited...
    Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies
    By: Brad Addington
  • Women In Packaging 2025 homepage hero

    Women in Packaging: Seizing Opportunities, Pushing Boundaries

    Seven women share their personal journeys in the...
    Material Converting
    By: Brad Addington
  • Image of the Spyder Pick and Place Joint Robot sorting pre-rolls.

    Cannabis Packaging Goes High-Tech

    Packaging Strategies doesn't often cover cannabis...
    Robotics
    By: Brad Addington
Subscription Center
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Online Registration

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Packaging Strategies audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Packaging Strategies or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Hand Holding Various Semaglutide and Insulin Injection Pens for different stages of the treatment.
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    How GLP-1 Is Reshaping Food Packaging, and Why It Matters More Than You Think

  • A stack of clear plastic containers, the bottom full of mixed fruit
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    Packaging Trends Shaping 2026: Where Trust Is Won

Popular Stories

Podcast | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check” with guest Anna Kendall headshot and title. Also pictured Cardboard boxes on conveyor belt.

PODCAST | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check

Logo for New Earth Ventures

Atlantic Packaging Launches New Earth Ventures to Accelerate Packaging Technology

Image of persimmons fruit in plastic packaging

IFPA Issues Position on EPR as Compliance Deadlines Hit Fresh Produce Industry

See the Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

Products

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

See More Products

Packaging Perspectives Podcast

Play Packaging Strategies' captivating WordPlay game, PackStrat! There's a new word every Tuesday.

Related Articles

  • US demand for rigid bulk packaging to reach $7.3 billion in 2018

    See More
  • World demand for packaging machinery to reach $41.8 billion in 2017

    See More
  • World demand for corrugated boxes to reach 234 billion square meters in 2017

    See More
×

Keep the info flowing with our Newsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing