Key facts
- The containerboard market saw a drop in consumption of almost 7% in 2022, followed by a further decline of over 8.5% in 2023
- The market value of converted board estimated at just over $226 billion in 2023, which is less than the value of the market in 2017.
Find out:
- What factors have caused the decline in the corrugated packaging market
- How will the market respond to changing environmental regulations
- Where will the impact of these regulations be most felt
- Why has void fill, rightsizing and lightweighting caused the market to decline
- When will new products enter the market and across what end uses
- Who is innovating these products, and who are the winners and losers.
Report definitions
- Corrugated board typically consists of three layers: two layers of linerboard, which sandwich a layer of fluting. This board is then made into boxes for the packaging of a wide range of products, from fresh produce to FMCG, and industrial items, mainly in secondary packaging applications
- This report covers 13 end-use sectors and key grades within the corrugated market.
Who should buy the report?
- Raw material suppliers
- Packaging manufacturers
- End-users in the packaging sector
- Industry consultants and analysts
The Smithers Methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consists of targeted interviews with material suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This is supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.
Smithers provides deep insights, with raw data gained from consistent monitoring of the packaging industry. We use a range of data sources from key player annual reports to trade data including both import and export numbers, combined with in-house market research and analyst experience. We use an independent market modelling process, which when combined with primary research gives us the basis of our market data. We use a combined top-down and bottom-up approach for our market sizing and consistently examine the economic situation as developments occur and update our data accordingly. We work to establish the current norm of a market, and from there we assess the micro- and macro-economic environment implications which are going to ripple through the packaging sphere, with specific focus on material, end use and geographic region. We then move on to identifying industry defining technological advancements that provide a solid foundation for the future growth of the market and the numbers we publish.
About the author
Stephen Harrod spent 11 years building a market research company in South Africa, focused on the paper and packaging industry in that country, following which he spent six years in the paper industry with Mondi and JAC Labels before relocating to the UK. He has been authoring reports for Smithers since 2006, with a focus on global paper and packaging markets.
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction & methodology
The corrugated board market and technology drivers
- Introduction
- Key drivers and trends
The global corrugated board market - historic
- Introduction
- The global containerboard industry
- The global corrugated board industry
The future of the global corrugated board market
- Introduction
- Containerboard
- Corrugated board
Corrugated board packaging markets by end-use application
- Overview
- Detailed market analysis
Corrugated board packaging markets by geographic region
Tables
- Trends summary, 2024-29
- Current and forecast production volume of corrugated board, 2024-29, by print process ('000 tonnes)
- Net incremental production of corrugated board, 2024-29, by print process ('000 tonnes)
- Historical production volume of corrugated board, 2016-20, by flute size ('000 tonnes)
- Current and forecast production volume of corrugated board, 2024-29, by flute size ('000 tonnes)
- Net incremental demand for corrugated board, 2024-29, by flute size ('000 tonnes)
- Summary of key acquisitions
- Global containerboard production 2019-24, by region and country ('000 tonnes, $ million)
- 20 major global producers of containerboard, 2023, volume and value
Figures
- Forecast changes in regional apparent consumption of containerboard, 2023- 2029
- Global actual consumption of corrugated board packaging, 2023 and 2029, by region ('000 tonnes)
- Consumption of corrugated board packaging, 2023 and 2029, by enduse application ('000 tonnes)
- CAGR % growth prospects for corrugated board, 2024-29, by end use
- Net incremental requirement for corrugated board, 2024-29, by end use ('000 tonnes)
- % change in market share for corrugated board, 2024-29, by end use
- The corrugated supply cycle
- Profit pool for the corrugated supply cycle
- Changes in regional market shares of converted corrugated materials, 2019-2024
- Forecast changes in regional apparent consumption of containerboard, 2023-29