Market Trends of India Packaging Industry
Food Industry is Expected to Hold the Largest Share in the Market
- According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) in India, the Food and Grocery market contributes almost 70% of the total retail sales. Departmental retail stores in the urban food market and unit packaging n in the rural food markets are key drivers of flexible packaging in the country. According to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the number of traditional retail grocery outlets across India in 2021 was 12.79 million and was expected to surpass 13.05 million by mid of 2023. The growing retail market is expected to boost the demand for flexible packaging in the food segment.
- Furthermore, with the outbreak of COVID-19, the online ordering food segment witnessed significant growth in the country as the country was under lockdown, which resulted in a sudden boom in the online food sector and packed food products. The market size of packed food products drastically increased and is also expected to grow to USD 3.4 billion by 2027, as per the reports of MARC India. Major food delivery players across India, such as Swiggy and Zomato, expanded their base to tier two and tier three cities. Containers, such as bowls, trays, and containers, increased prominently.
- In addition, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Government of India formed a private, nonprofit organization known as Open Network for Digital Commerce to create open networks for e-commerce. In April 2022, it was established. Any network-enabled app is expected to be able to identify and interact with local commerce across significant categories like supermarkets, food delivery, hotel booking, travel bookings, and more due to this open network.
- The drive to go sustainable has pushed many folding carton manufacturers to launch new products in the market. The packaging solution providers also aim to launch innovative products for the dairy segment. In March 2022, SIG India launched a similar aluminum-free folding carton aseptic packaging to tap into the rising demand for carton-packaged milk products in the country.
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Paper Packaging to Have Significant Market Share
- The paper packaging business witnessed growth over the last decade due to changes in substrate choice, new market expansion, ownership dynamics, and government initiatives to ban plastic. Sustainability and environmental issues continue to be emphasized, and various innovations catering to paper packaging are expected to drive the market's growth in India.
- Packaging product in paper packaging comprises folding cartons, corrugated boxes, paper bags, and liquid paperboard. With the considerable increase in organized retail, the demand for paper packaging is anticipated to increase due to the rapid increase in supermarkets and modern shopping centers. In June 2022, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a federal agency under the Ministry of the Environment, released a list of steps to outlaw specific single-use plastic products by June 2022. Such measures are anticipated to drive the demand for paper packaging in the country.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian e-commerce industry witnessed significant growth in the volume of online orders due to restrictions imposed on the movement of people and the shutdown of physical stores. People across the country increasingly bought online groceries, food items, and daily essentials while also purchasing merchandise online. Corrugated packaging materials significantly transported food, medicines, and medical equipment, which accelerated due to the rise in online deliveries.
- High prices of key input material, kraft paper, led to increased rates of corrugated boxes in India. This is expected to hamper the market's growth in the forecast period. For instance, in February 2022, the Kerala Corrugated Box Manufacturers Association (KeCBMA) proposed increasing the prices of corrugated boxes due to the sharp increase in the cost of essential input materials used for the manufacturing of corrugated boxes such as duplex board and kraft paper. The association said that the cost of kraft paper, the essential raw material used for manufacturing corrugated boxes, increased by more than INR 5 i.e. more than 6 US Cent in the last two months. The emerging situation forced the association to increase the prices of corrugated boxes.
- As sustainability grows, consumers are increasingly looking for 'green' products. For instance, Air India and the Indian Railways are replacing plastic packaging with eco-friendly paper and planning to use wooden cutlery to take a step toward sustainability. Many brands are basing their packaging choices on the environmental implications that accompany them by shifting away from single-use packaging and toward using compostable, recyclable, and reusable materials.
- For instance, Godrej Consumer Product Ltd. committed to a sustainability target until 2025 to adopt a circular economy and ensure efficient use of resources. This initiative includes 100% use of recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging and 10% use of post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging. Adopting an optimized packaging infrastructure can enhance brand appeal and increase the demand for sustainable packing solutions.
