India Food And Beverage Packaging Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 38.27 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 52.49 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 6.52% CAGR |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
India Food And Beverage Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The India food and beverage packaging market size reached USD 38.27 billion in 2025 and is projected to climb to USD 52.49 billion by 2030, reflecting a 6.52% CAGR. Rising processed-food penetration, mandatory recycled-content rules, and e-commerce expansion are reinforcing steady demand for packaging that stretches shelf life and meets safety norms. Government incentives such as the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, worth INR 10,900 crores, are stimulating capital investment in automated lines and cold-chain infrastructure.[1]Press Information Bureau, “PLI scheme incentivizes domestic manufacturing,” pib.gov.inFlexible formats still dominate volumes, yet rigid options are gaining traction because premium beverages and export-oriented ready meals need stronger protection. Input price volatility compressed converter margins to a decade-low 8% in 2024, but recyclate supply bottlenecks and capacity additions in rigid formats point to widening opportunities for vertically integrated firms.
Key Report Takeaways
- By material type, plastic captured 56.38% of the India food and beverage packaging market share in 2024.
- By product type, the India food and beverage packaging market size for metal products is projected to grow at a 7.34% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By packaging format, flexible packaging captured 53.26% of the India food and beverage packaging market share in 2024.
- By end‐use category, the India food and beverage packaging market size for beverages is projected to grow at a 7.82% CAGR between 2025-2030.
India Food And Beverage Packaging Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising processed-food penetration | +1.2% | National, stronger in cities | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Imports of automated Food packaging machinery | +0.8% | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka | Short term (≤2 years) |
| E-commerce and D2C demand for SKU differentiation | +0.9% | Metro and Tier-2 markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Mandated 30% rPET content in bottles | +0.7% | National, early in beverages | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Cold-chain ready-meal exports | +0.6% | Tamil Nadu export clusters | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Cloud-kitchen growth and dual-ovenable trays | +0.4% | High-delivery urban zones | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rising Processed-Food Penetration Drives Packaging Innovation
Processed-food consumption is surging as urbanization and disposable income climb. Domestic food sales are on track to hit USD 1,274 billion by 2027, pulling advanced multilayer films and retort pouches into the spotlight. Snack producers want portion-controlled packs that keep flavor intact during last-mile delivery. Ready-to-eat meals need pouches that survive steam sterilization and preserve nutrients. Bureau of Indian Standards specifications ensure direct-contact materials comply with food-grade requirements, pushing converters to adopt certified inks and adhesives.[2]Business Standard, “Decoded: Why beverage giants are pushing against govt's new PET bottle rule,” business-standard.com
E-commerce and D2C Brands Reshape SKU-Level Differentiation
Online retail surpassed INR 12.2 trillion in 2024, expanding 18.7% annually and fueling demand for tamper-evident, moisture-resistant, and visually striking packs. D2C labels rely on packaging to create memorable unboxing moments. Short production runs have triggered rapid uptake of digital presses that enable quick design changes without high plate costs. Brands now opt for smaller pack sizes and premium finishes that survive the logistics chain and convey sustainability credentials.
Mandated rPET Content Accelerates Sustainable Transition
The April 2025 rule requiring 30% recycled PET in beverage bottles has become a major catalyst for supply-chain redesign. Only five FSSAI-approved plants currently produce food-grade rPET, covering barely 15% of demand. Beverage companies face packaging cost hikes of around 30% and are lobbying for staging periods. Producers such as Ganesha Ecopet are boosting bottle-to-bottle capacity to 42,000 tonnes a year, while converters explore lighter-weight bottle designs that accommodate recycled resin without compromising strength.
Cold-Chain Infrastructure Expansion Enables Export Growth
Government-supported cold-chain projects, 135 in total with 97 operational, are reducing post-harvest losses and stimulating exports. Ready-meal exporters based in Tamil Nadu use retort pouches designed for extended ambient storage. Dual-ovenable paper trays paired with modified-atmosphere sealing support growing overseas demand for heat-and-eat curries. Compliance with HACCP and ISO standards is mandatory for Europe and North America, prompting investments in in-line X-ray inspection and barrier-coated papers.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMEs’ limited access to best-practice manufacturing | -0.8% | Rural and semi-urban clusters | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Volatile polymer prices squeezing margins | -1.1% | National, severe in flexibles | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Eight-percent profitability trough in flexibles | -0.9% | Maharashtra, Gujarat hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Talent shortage in food-grade inks and coatings | -0.5% | Specialized centers | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
SMEs Face Technology and Compliance Barriers
SMEs make up 85% of India’s 22,000 registered packaging firms but often lack capital for solvent-less laminators or toluene-free ink systems. Only one-fifth of converters have met the IS 15495 standard that bars toxic solvents in food packs. Limited technical training and fragmented supply chains restrict smaller factories from serving premium customers who insist on globally certified packs.
Volatile Polymer Prices Create Margin Pressures
A 45% capacity jump in BOPET films and 20% in BOPP films collided with an 11% demand rise, pushing flexible-film margins to 8% in 2024. Sharp resin swings force converters to carry high working capital or hedge, neither of which suits debt-laden SMEs. Credit profiles are under stress despite the expected 5-6% volume recovery in packaged foods. Larger firms with backward-integrated resin lines remain better shielded from price shocks.
Segment Analysis
By Material Type: Paper Gains Momentum as Regulations Tighten
Paper and paperboard products captured 38.95% of the India food and beverage packaging market size in 2024. Plastic still holds the overall lead with 56.38% share, yet recycled-content mandates and consumer eco-preferences push kraft and barrier-coated papers forward at a 7.76% CAGR. The India food and beverage packaging market share for plastic is forecast to slip mildly as converters blend virgin with certified recyclate to meet rPET rules. FSSAI’s 2025 amendment now allows recycled PET in direct food contact once plants meet stringent tests. Barrier-paper innovators such as Koehler offer mono-material papers that pass grease and oxygen tests while easing curbside recycling.
Paper’s ascent is visible in beverage multipacks and QSR trays, yet polymer demand persists in high-humidity snacks and dairy pouches. Multilayer PE and BOPP remain cost-efficient for flavor retention. Metal cans hold a niche in premium ready drinks and export-oriented processed meats, buoyed by their unmatched light and gas barriers. Glass caters to high-value spices and condiments that target aroma conservation. Material strategies, therefore, converge on hybrid portfolios rather than outright substitution.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Product Type: Metal Packs Accelerate under Premiumization
Paperboard cartons lead unit volumes, but metal containers are pacing fastest at a 7.34% CAGR through 2030. Craft beer, energy drinks, and nutraceutical powders favor 2-piece aluminum cans that chill rapidly and prolong shelf life. ITC’s INR 20,000 crore outlay earmarks a third for paperboards and moulded fiber, yet also supports high-stiffness laminated cartons for e-commerce shipping. Rigid plastic tubs address mass dairy, and flexible laminates dominate salty snacks. Single-use cellulose plates are rising in cloud kitchens.
Metal’s growth also draws on advances in BPA-non-intent coatings that align with global safety standards. Aerosol whipped-cream exports use internally lacquered steel to prevent flavor scalping. Consumer willingness to pay premiums for sleek matte finishes favors metal over alternative formats.
By Packaging Format: Rigid Offerings Outpace in Growth
Flexible pouches still represented 53.26% of shipments in 2024, yet rigid containers are expanding at a 7.96% CAGR as exporters and premium beverage firms seek tamper-proof structures. Mold-Tek commissioned three new plants that lift injection-molded pail capacity by 5,500 MTA, signaling confidence in rigid demand from sauces, ice creams, and edible oils. Light-weighting and in-mold labeling mitigate material costs while retaining shelf appeal. Retort-ready stand-up pouches in flexible substrates maintain momentum for curry and khichdi meals, though cost inflation in aluminum foil raises converter caution.
Advanced blow-molding lines adopting digital twin controls cut resin use by 8-10% and allow easy rPET incorporation. Rigid PET bottles with 30% recyclate now roll out for flavored milk and cold brews, fulfilling the April 2025 rule without process downtime.
By End-Use Category: Beverages Mark Faster Lane
Food retained 44.75% revenue in 2024, but beverages are projected to log a 7.82% CAGR to 2030. Less than 10% of India’s milk output is packaged, leaving a vast headroom for aseptic cartons and multilayer pouches. SIG’s Ahmedabad plant will churn out 4 billion packs yearly, slashing lead times for dairies in the west and north. Functional drinks and plant-based protein shakes need oxygen-scavenging closures and UV-shield labels.
Nutraceutical gummies favor HDPE bottles with induction seals that block moisture ingress. Meat, poultry, and seafood rely on vacuum pouches and thermoformed trays that align with expanding cold chains. Bakery brands invest in metallized OPP wraps to maintain crispness in humid climates. Urban on-the-go consumers gravitate to resealable, slimline cans that fit ride-hailing cup-holders, reinforcing metal’s ascent.
Geography Analysis
Maharashtra heads the India food and beverage packaging market thanks to its diversified manufacturing clusters, strong cold-chain presence, and proximity to Mumbai’s consumption engine. Gujarat leverages port connectivity and investor-friendly policies to lure global majors such as Amcor, which acquired Phoenix Flexibles to deepen local laminates capacity. Karnataka marries tech talent with automation adoption, spurring uptake of vision-based QC systems that trim wastage in flexible lines.
Tamil Nadu tops ready-meal exports and champions retort pouch capability geared for European grocery chains. The state’s seafood processors require FDA-compliant barrier films and in-line metal detection. Haryana and Telangana are newer entrants. Haryana benefits from Delhi NCR demand and existing PET preform clusters, while Telangana utilizes its pharma coating expertise to craft odor-free food packs. The Production Linked Incentive Scheme has sanctioned 755 projects and INR 1.23 lakh crores of committed outlays, with a notable share mapped to these emerging hubs.
Cold-chain infrastructure remains uneven. Southern states host 40% of integrated cold stores, enabling long-haul movement of cut fruit in MAP trays toward Gulf retailers. Western corridors rely on reefer truck fleets that still trail best-practice temperature monitoring. Uniform national standards from BIS and FSSAI smooth interstate trade, yet enforcement intensity varies, nudging brand owners to impose their own supplier audits
Competitive Landscape
The India food and beverage packaging market features moderate concentration. Uflex combines PET resin, BOPP film, holographic security, and aseptic bricks under one roof, delivering price and lead-time advantages. TCPL Packaging diversifies through gravure, flexo, and digital presses, supplying folding cartons to multinational confectioners. EPL Limited holds global patents in laminated tubes, serving sauces and nut butters that need a high barrier with recyclability. Together, the three leaders hold about an 18% share, while the top ten account for 55%.
Competitors are racing to secure circular-economy credentials. Uflex is investing USD 200 million in an Egyptian PET chip plant tied to an aseptic pack line to serve Africa and the Middle East. TCPL trials water-based inks that meet toluene-free rules without curing delays. Balrampur Chini Mills is building a PLA plant valued at USD 240 million that will supply compostable resins to converters.[3]Indian Chemical News, “Balrampur Chini Mills to venture into PLA manufacturing,” indianchemicalnews.com
Private-equity interest remains intense. PAG’s USD 204 million buyout of Pravesha Industries followed its USD 1 billion purchase of Manjushree Technopack, signaling confidence in scale economics and backward integration strategies. Smaller converters focus on niche playbooks such as blister backer cards for nutraceutical exports, acquired recently by Canpac Trends. Digital workflows, AI-based quality inspection, and blockchain batch tracking are moving from pilots to production across the sector.
India Food And Beverage Packaging Industry Leaders
-
Parekhplast India Limited
-
Pearl Polymers Ltd
-
Uflex Limited
-
TCPL Packaging Limited
-
EPL Limited
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- March 2025: FSSAI allowed recycled PET in direct-food contact packs under the First Amendment to Packaging Regulations, enabling circular supply chains.
- February 2025: SIG opened its first Indian aseptic carton plant in Ahmedabad with EUR 90 million investment and 4 billion pack capacity.
- February 2025: Tetra Pak shipped 5% ISCC-PLUS recycled-polymer cartons from its Pune site, aligning with Plastic Waste Management Rules.
- February 2025: Ganesha Ecopet lifted bottle-to-bottle rPET capacity to 42,000 tpa after installing two Starlinger lines.
India Food And Beverage Packaging Market Report Scope
The growth of organized retail, along with the boom in the e-commerce sector, is driving exponential growth in the industry. This has led to thousands of packets being delivered daily across the country, generating demand for high-quality product packaging.
The food packaging industry in India is segmented into food packaging market and beverage packaging market. The food packaging market is segmented by material (plastic, paperboard, metal, and glass), type of product (pouches and bags, bottles and jars, trays and containers, films and wraps, and other types of products), and application (dairy products, meat, poultry, and seafood, bakery and confectionary, fruits and vegetables, and other applications). The beverage packaging market is segmented by material (plastic, paperboard, metal, and glass), type of product (bottles, cans, pouches and cartons, caps and closures, and other types of products), and application (carbonated soft drinks and fruit beverages, beer, wine and distilled spirits, bottled water, milk, energy and sports drinks, and other applications). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
| Paper and Paperboard | |
| Plastic | Polyethylene Polypropylene (PP) |
| High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) | |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | |
| Polystyrene (PS) | |
| Other Plastics | |
| Metal | |
| Container Glass |
| Paper and Paperboard Product Type | Folding Carton and Rigid Boxes | |
| Corrugated Boxes and Containers | ||
| Single-use Paper Products | ||
| Other Paper and Paperboard Product Types | ||
| Plastic Product Type | Rigid Plastics | Bottles and Jars |
| Caps and Closures | ||
| Bulk-Grade Products | ||
| Other Rigid Plastics Product Types | ||
| Flexible Plastics | Pouches | |
| Bags | ||
| Films and Wraps | ||
| Other Flexible Plastics Product Types | ||
| Metal Product Type | Cans | |
| Caps and Closures | ||
| Aerosol Containers | ||
| Other Metal Product Types | ||
| Container Glass Product Type | Bottles | |
| Jars | ||
| Rigid Packaging Format |
| Flexible Packaging Format |
| Food | Dairy Products |
| Meat, Poultry and Seafood | |
| Bakery and Confectionery | |
| Fruits and Vegetables | |
| Ready-to-Eat and Meal Kits | |
| Snacks and Savouries | |
| Nutraceuticals and Supplements | |
| Other Food | |
| Beverage | Carbonated Soft Drinks and Juices |
| Beer | |
| Wine and Spirits | |
| Bottled Water | |
| Milk and Dairy Beverages | |
| Energy, Sports and Functional Drinks | |
| Other Beverage |
| By Material Type | Paper and Paperboard | ||
| Plastic | Polyethylene Polypropylene (PP) | ||
| High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) | |||
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | |||
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | |||
| Polystyrene (PS) | |||
| Other Plastics | |||
| Metal | |||
| Container Glass | |||
| By Product Type | Paper and Paperboard Product Type | Folding Carton and Rigid Boxes | |
| Corrugated Boxes and Containers | |||
| Single-use Paper Products | |||
| Other Paper and Paperboard Product Types | |||
| Plastic Product Type | Rigid Plastics | Bottles and Jars | |
| Caps and Closures | |||
| Bulk-Grade Products | |||
| Other Rigid Plastics Product Types | |||
| Flexible Plastics | Pouches | ||
| Bags | |||
| Films and Wraps | |||
| Other Flexible Plastics Product Types | |||
| Metal Product Type | Cans | ||
| Caps and Closures | |||
| Aerosol Containers | |||
| Other Metal Product Types | |||
| Container Glass Product Type | Bottles | ||
| Jars | |||
| By Packaging Format | Rigid Packaging Format | ||
| Flexible Packaging Format | |||
| By End-Use Category | Food | Dairy Products | |
| Meat, Poultry and Seafood | |||
| Bakery and Confectionery | |||
| Fruits and Vegetables | |||
| Ready-to-Eat and Meal Kits | |||
| Snacks and Savouries | |||
| Nutraceuticals and Supplements | |||
| Other Food | |||
| Beverage | Carbonated Soft Drinks and Juices | ||
| Beer | |||
| Wine and Spirits | |||
| Bottled Water | |||
| Milk and Dairy Beverages | |||
| Energy, Sports and Functional Drinks | |||
| Other Beverage | |||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
How large is the India food and beverage packaging market in 2025?
It is valued at USD 38.27 billion and is projected to grow at 6.52% CAGR to reach USD 52.49 billion by 2030.
Which packaging format is growing fastest?
Rigid containers are expanding at a 7.96% CAGR, fueled by premium beverages and export-oriented ready meals.
What effect does the 30% rPET mandate have on bottle costs?
Converters estimate packaging costs could rise about 30% because supply of food-grade rPET covers only 15% of demand.
Which region is the main manufacturing hub?
Maharashtra leads due to its industrial base and consumption center proximity, followed by Gujarat with strong port access.
Who are the key market players?
Uflex, TCPL Packaging, and EPL Limited together hold about 18% share, backed by vertical integration across films, inks, and converting.
Why are SMEs struggling with compliance?
Many lack capital for solvent-free printing and advanced quality controls, leaving only 20% compliant with IS 15495 for toluene-free inks.
Page last updated on:
