Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 28.74 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 37.31 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 5.36% 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. |
|
Mexico Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Mexico packaging market size reached USD 28.74 billion in 2025 and is forecast to scale to USD 37.31 billion by 2030, registering a 5.36% CAGR in the same period. Nearshoring-led factory migration from Asia, escalating e-commerce volumes, and mandatory sustainability disclosures under NIS A-1 and NIS B-1 are the primary forces that keep the Mexico packaging market on an expansionary track. Plastics continue to command scale, yet paper and flexible substrates capture incremental share as brands recalibrate specifications to satisfy consumer and regulatory demands for recyclability. Digital printing technology, growing at 6.23% CAGR, enables converters to serve shorter production runs tied to nearshoring, while energy-price volatility and anti-dumping measures on Asian substrates introduce cost uncertainty. Consolidation exemplified by the Smurfit Kappa–WestRock merger signals intensifying competition as global majors seek a foothold in the Mexico packaging market.
Key Report Takeaways
- By packaging material, plastics held 54.15% of Mexico packaging market share in 2024, while paper is projected to post the fastest 6.18% CAGR through 2030.
- By packaging type, rigid formats led with 52.49% revenue share in 2024; flexible solutions are forecast to expand at a 6.36% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user vertical, food and beverages accounted for 45.67% of the Mexico packaging market size in 2024, whereas pharmaceutical applications are advancing at a 6.04% CAGR through 2030.
- By printing technology, flexography captured 38.94% of Mexico packaging market share in 2024; digital printing is growing at a 6.23% CAGR over the forecast window.
Mexico Packaging Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearshoring-driven capacity expansions | +1.2% | Northern border states; central manufacturing hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Boom in e-commerce fulfillment packaging | +0.8% | National; Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Surge in food-processing exports to the United States | +0.6% | Border zones; agricultural regions | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Mandatory recycled-content targets | +0.4% | Nationwide; stricter in Mexico City | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Rapid adoption of digital package printing | +0.5% | Urban export-oriented plants | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Government incentives for PET recycling plants | +0.3% | Industrial states nationwide | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Nearshoring-driven capacity expansions transform supply-chain architecture
Foreign direct investment into Mexico rose 30% in 2023 to USD 33 billion, almost half of which flowed to new entrants establishing lines that require packaging tailored for just-in-time cross-border shipments. Manufacturing’s 17% share of GDP and 5.2% annual growth amplify consumption of corrugated cases, pallets, and export-grade labels. Interconnected production where 40% of a finished product’s value is U.S.-origin calls for packaging engineered for mixed regulatory regimes and multi-modal transit. Industrial property demand is on an 80% up-swing, spurring build-outs of fully automated box plants and filling lines. Tax incentives under Plan Mexico permit 35%–91% accelerated depreciation on new fixed assets, lowering acquisition costs for converting machinery.
E-commerce fulfillment packaging surge reshapes material demand
Online retail penetration hit 15% of total sales in 2025 and is on track to reach USD 176.8 billion by 2026, accelerating the pivot from rigid corrugate to lightweight mailers and cushioning systems that reduce dimensional weight fees. Food-delivery platforms valued at USD 2.5 billion generated more than 300,000 tons of packaging waste in 2024, prompting Mexico City’s enforcement of single-use plastic bans that have levied over 70,000 fines. Retailers invested USD 2.1 billion in store expansion and hired 640,000 workers in 2024, translating into higher secondary and tertiary packaging volumes. With e-commerce forecast to grow 9.8% CAGR, converters deploy digital work-flows and recycled content to balance sustainability mandates with protective performance. Circular pilots such as Vytal’s returnable container network and Rappi’s 20,000-ton plastic recovery illustrate early-stage demand for reusable formats.
Food-processing export boom drives specialized packaging requirements
United States agricultural shipments to Mexico climbed 65% in four years to USD 31.4 billion in 2024, intensifying demand for packaging that satisfies FDA and COFEPRIS norms simultaneously. Dairy exports alone expanded 76% since 2020, spurring sales of multilayer pouches with high oxygen barriers. Domestic corn output dropped from 27.5 million tons in 2023 to 23.7 million tons in 2024 due to drought, raising imports and hence bulk-handling packaging volumes. The National Tortilla Council warns of 40% price hikes, elevating shelf-life extension priorities for flexible films. Meanwhile, meat-packing plants adopt high-performance trays and absorbent pads to preserve cold-chain integrity on extended U.S. routes.
Mandatory recycled-content targets reshape procurement
NIS A-1 and NIS B-1 standards effective 2025 compel publicly traded firms to disclose environmental metrics including recycled content and end-of-life recovery alongside financials. Brand owners now stipulate post-consumer resin thresholds of 30%–50% in bids, driving contract renegotiations with resin suppliers. PET recycling capacity receives a boost from government incentives offering a 25% deduction on training and innovation tied to circular projects, reinforcing facility expansions such as PetStar’s Toluca plant that processes 3.4 billion bottles annually. However, supply lags demand, leading to price premiums for certified PCR material that ripple through finished-goods quotations.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy-price volatility squeezing converter margins | -0.9% | National; pronounced in northern states | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Anti-dumping duties on Asian substrates | -0.6% | Import-dependent facilities; border zones | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Shortage of certified post-consumer resin | -0.4% | Beverage and food packaging clusters | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Growing consumer backlash against multilayer laminates | -0.3% | Mexico City; coastal states | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Energy-price volatility pressures converter profitability
Electricity tariffs differ sharply across Mexico’s industrial corridors, complicating budgeting for extrusion, blow-molding, and printing assets . The National Energy Plan earmarks USD 23.4 billion for grid upgrades and renewable capacity, yet timelines place tangible relief beyond 2026. Petroleum-based raw-materials costs add another layer of fluctuation, as PEMEX recalibrates feedstock allocations toward low-carbon pathways. Converters counter volatility with on-site solar arrays and energy-efficient electric blow-molding lines, but upfront capex remains prohibitive for small and mid-size firms.
Anti-dumping measures disrupt Asian substrate supply chains
February 2025 investigations into Chinese cardboard and polycarbonate imports threaten duties of 5%–50% that would elevate input costs for corrugated and rigid plastic packaging. Parallel tariff reinstatements on 544 goods until April 2026 further tighten supply, with textiles and certain plastics losing IMMEX duty suspension benefits. Converters scramble to re-source substrates domestically or from USMCA partners, extending lead-times and inflating inventories. Price escalation risks intensify ahead of 2026 USMCA renegotiations as policymakers position local industries for leverage.
Segment Analysis
By Packaging Material: recyclability pushes paper uptake
Plastics dominated the Mexico packaging market with 54.15% Mexico packaging market share in 2024, underpinned by durability and barrier properties demanded by food, pharmaceutical, and industrial clients. Yet stringent single-use bans in Mexico City, Durango, Quintana Roo, Zacatecas, and Michoacán incentivize substitution, elevating paper’s 6.18% CAGR through 2030. Government procurements increasingly specify biodegradable or fiber-based solutions, prompting carton and molded-fiber capacity additions among converters.
Momentum also stems from technology gains in enzymatic and chemical recycling of PET that mitigate environmental pushback against plastics. Covestro, Braskem, and Carbios pilot depolymerization systems that promise lower energy intensity. For rigid glass and metal segments, growth remains stable but muted due to transport costs and weight. Composite and bio-based innovations like starch-lined corrugate and PLA blends inch toward commercial scale as material science advances.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Packaging Type: flexible platforms capture e-commerce tailwinds
Rigid containers retained 52.49% share of the Mexico packaging market size during 2024, driven by beverage bottles, thermoformed trays, and pharmaceutical vials that require structural integrity. However, flexible formats are poised for 6.36% CAGR, propelled by courier networks favoring lightweight pouches and mailers that cut freight charges. Brands appreciate the high product-to-package ratio and shelf-appeal graphics achievable on laminates and monomaterial films.
Consumer backlash against unrecyclable multilayer wraps pushes R&D toward mono-PE and mono-PP architectures compatible with mechanical recycling streams. COFEPRIS front-of-pack regulations under NOM-051 drive label redesigns on flexible substrates, fostering demand for variable data printing. Supply shocks from anti-dumping actions on Asian plastics accelerate investment in domestic film extrusion lines, enhancing regional self-reliance.
By End-User Vertical: healthcare accelerates amid food leadership
Food and beverages commanded 45.67% Mexico packaging market share in 2024, reflecting sustained retail sales growth and Mexico’s emergence as the top U.S. agricultural export destination. Rising incomes and urbanization fuel demand for portion-controlled snacks and ready-to-eat meals that rely on modified-atmosphere packaging. Simultaneously, pharmaceutical applications expand at a 6.04% CAGR to 2030 as COFEPRIS’s updated NOM-137 enables electronic labeling and encourages localized fill-finish operations.
Personal-care and cosmetics benefit from premiumization trends, adopting airless pumps and recyclable mono-material tubes. Automotive and industrial sectors ride nearshoring momentum, specifying heavy-duty corrugated and engineered returnable trays for cross-border loops. Sustainability commitments Grupo Bimbo’s 94% recyclable packaging achievement in 2024 pressure all verticals to advance circularity targets
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Packaging Technology: digital printing rises on customization demand
Flexographic presses still hold 38.94% Mexico packaging market share thanks to cost advantages on long runs. Yet digital systems are clipping 6.23% CAGR as brands request SKU proliferation and serialized traceability, especially in pharmaceuticals. EXPO PACK México 2024 showcased HP Indigo and Xeikon units capable of short runs with zero plates, reducing time-to-market .
Converters integrate hybrid lines that marry flexo productivity with digital finishing for variable data, enabling versioned campaigns for export and domestic audiences. Imports of high-resolution inkjet heads from the United States and China expand capabilities beyond native supply. Offset lithography and gravure remain niche, serving luxury packaging that mandates extended color gamut and tactile embellishments.
Geography Analysis
Northern border states Nuevo León, Chihuahua, and Baja California anchor automotive and electronics packaging lines tailored for rapid cross-dock into the United States. Industrial property demand is projected to climb 80% as nearshoring projects advance, compelling packaging suppliers to co-locate near OEM clusters for just-in-sequence delivery. Higher wages and tight labor markets in these zones elevate automation investments, including robotic case erectors and palletizers that offset staffing gaps.
Central manufacturing corridors around Mexico City, Puebla, and Guadalajara balance export and domestic consumption flows. Robust highway and rail links, coupled with a dense supplier base, make the region attractive for flexible packaging converters serving food and personal-care brands. However, Mexico City’s stringent plastic-ban enforcement drives swift material pivots toward paper or compostables, forcing converters to diversify substrates.
The southeast gains strategic relevance through the Maya Train and Interoceanic Corridor projects that enhance connectivity between Pacific and Atlantic ports. Expected cargo rerouting encourages new corrugated and bulk-bag facilities to support agri-exports and mineral shipments. Still, infrastructure bottlenecks high electricity tariffs and water scarcity temper speed of build-outs. State tax surcharges on emissions and waste add compliance costs that favor large, vertically integrated groups with ESG reporting systems.
Competitive Landscape
Market concentration is moderate as global majors strengthen through mergers while a long tail of regional converters retains meaningful share. The Smurfit Kappa-WestRock union created a 40-country giant with 100,000 staff, deepening corrugated capabilities for U.S.-Mexico cross-border trade. The pending Amcor-Berry Global merger, targeting USD 650 million in synergies, will extend film and rigid packaging reach once final approvals clear in mid-2025.
Local innovators capitalize on sustainability and nearshoring. PetStar operates the world’s largest food-grade PET recycling plant in Toluca, processing 3.4 billion bottles annually to feed brand PCR mandates.[1]Waste to Energy Research & Technology Council, “Implementing a Circular Economy in Mexico through PET Recycling,” wtert.net UFlex commissioned a 15,000 MTPA post-consumer PET flake and 6,000 MTPA multilayer plastics recycling line, integrating into its Toluca pouch complex.[2]Ambekar Naveen, “PowerPoint Presentation,” UFlex Limited, uflexltd.com AGH Labels produces 14 billion digital labels annually and opened a Laredo, Texas hub to shorten delivery to U.S. clients.[3]James Quirk, “AGH Labels Targets US Market,” Labels & Labeling, labelsandlabeling.com
Strategic plays focus on closed-loop models and digital workflow adoption. Arca Continental’s PET collection expansion targets 380 million additional bottles each year and incorporates 30.3% recycled content in its packaging. Converters invest in inkjet and laser coding systems for serialization, anticipating pharmaceutical and food traceability mandates. Cost inflation and tariff risk reinforce dual-sourcing strategies, with many firms locking multiyear resin contracts with North American suppliers.
Mexico Packaging Industry Leaders
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Grupo Gondi S.A. de C.V.
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Smurfit Kappa México, S.A. de C.V.
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Envases Universales de México, S.A. de C.V.
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Vitro, S.A.B. de C.V.
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Amcor Flexibles México, S. de R.L. de C.V.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- April 2025: Arca Continental and Coca-Cola Mexico invested MXN 56.5 million (USD 2.8 million) to expand their PET bottle collection plant in San Luis Potosí, targeting recovery of 380 million bottles annually
- March 2025: Mexico’s government published guidelines for applying Plan Mexico tax incentives, establishing a committee to issue compliance certificates valid through 2030
- January 2025: Amcor and Berry Global filed a joint proxy statement with the SEC, marking a milestone toward completing their all-stock merger by mid-2025
- January 2025: A presidential decree under Plan Mexico introduced accelerated depreciation of 35%–91% on new fixed assets and a 25% deduction for training and innovation expenses, capped at USD 1.5 billion
Mexico Packaging Market Report Scope
Packaging Industry is of paramount importance and plays a vital role in the international trade of goods. Packaging can be classified based on their type of use, which is primary packaging, secondary packaging, tertiary packaging, and ancillary packaging.
The packaging industry in Mexico is segmented by packaging material (plastic, metal, glass, and other packaging types), packaging type (flexible packaging (pouches & bags, films and wraps, and tubes), rigid packaging (bottles and jars and trays and containers), and other packaging materials) and end-user vertical (personal care, home care, automotive, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and other end user verticals).
The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD million) for all the above segments.
By Packaging Material
| Plastics |
| Paper and Paperboard |
| Metal |
| Glass |
| Other Materials |
By Packaging Type
| Flexible Packaging | Pouches and Bags |
| Films and Wraps | |
| Tubes | |
| Other Product Types | |
| Rigid Packaging | Bottles and Jars |
| Trays and Containers | |
| Other Product Types |
By End-user Vertical
| Food and Beverage |
| Personal Care and Cosmetics |
| Home Care |
| Pharmaceutical |
| Automotive and Industrial |
| Other Verticals |
By Packaging Technology
| Flexographic Printing |
| Digital Printing |
| Gravure Printing |
| Offset Lithography |
| Other Technologies |
| By Packaging Material | Plastics | |
| Paper and Paperboard | ||
| Metal | ||
| Glass | ||
| Other Materials | ||
| By Packaging Type | Flexible Packaging | Pouches and Bags |
| Films and Wraps | ||
| Tubes | ||
| Other Product Types | ||
| Rigid Packaging | Bottles and Jars | |
| Trays and Containers | ||
| Other Product Types | ||
| By End-user Vertical | Food and Beverage | |
| Personal Care and Cosmetics | ||
| Home Care | ||
| Pharmaceutical | ||
| Automotive and Industrial | ||
| Other Verticals | ||
| By Packaging Technology | Flexographic Printing | |
| Digital Printing | ||
| Gravure Printing | ||
| Offset Lithography | ||
| Other Technologies | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
How large is the Mexico packaging market in 2025?
The Mexico packaging market size stands at USD 28.74 billion in 2025.
What is the projected CAGR for Mexico’s packaging sector to 2030?
The market is forecast to grow at a 5.36% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
Which material segment is expanding fastest?
Paper packaging is expected to post the quickest 6.18% CAGR through 2030 as sustainability mandates tighten.
Why is digital printing gaining traction?
Brand owners require shorter runs and variable data for nearshoring and serialization, pushing digital printing to a 6.23% CAGR.
How do nearshoring trends influence packaging demand?
Foreign factories relocating to Mexico raise demand for export-compliant corrugated, labels, and protective formats optimized for U.S. logistics.
What regulatory changes affect recycled content?
NIS A-1 and NIS B-1 standards effective 2025 obligate listed companies to report environmental metrics, intensifying recycled-content procurement.
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