MEA Plastic Bottles and Containers Market Size

MEA Plastic Bottles & Containers Market Analysis

The Middle East and Africa plastic bottles and containers market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period (2021-2026). According to Standard Chartered, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Middle East's e-commerce market and pharmaceutical industry is booming. Triggered in part by pandemic lockdowns, consumers and businesses are shifting to digital channels, putting e-commerce sales on the way to reach USD 69.2 billion in 2021, from USD 4.3 billion just four years ago.

• Plastic packaging is becoming popular among consumers over other products as a plastic package is light in weight and is easier to handle. Similarly, even the major manufacturers prefer to use plastic packaging solutions, owing to their lower cost of production. Moreover, the introduction of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymers are expanding the plastic bottling applications. The market is witnessing an increasing demand for PET bottles in the bottled water and soft drink markets.
• Moreover, manufacturers are prefering PET over other plastic packaging materials, as it has a minimum loss of raw material during the manufacturing process when compared to other plastic products. Its recyclability and the feature to add multiple colors and designs augment it to become a preferred choice. Refillable products have emerged with the rising consumer awareness for the environment and have acted in creating demand for the product.
• United Arab Emirates has a significant demand for cosmetic products, owing to the growing influence of lifestyle and beauty bloggers (that has become a luxury statement for the population). Messe Frankfurt estimated that the sales value of beauty products in the country might reach USD 2.7 billion by 2020.
• With the recent COVID-19 outbreak and measures taken to curb the spread of the virus, single-use plastic bottles and container bags have seen a surge in demand, which is likely to continue for the next 6-8 months. Also, manufacturing capability will see a shift in production towards such trends, enabling the competitive rivalry to strengthen. But various countries in the region such as Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain have already banned single-use plastics.
• The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the largest environmental regulator in the Middle East, aims to eliminate the use of avoidable single-use plastic and non-plastic materials by 2021 through fostering a culture of recycling and re-use. From January, 2020 Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest airport that hosts 90 million people each year, banned single-use plastics at all its consumer spaces. DXB's operator, Dubai Airports, recycles 43,000 tonnes of paper, glass, and other waste each year.