Rigid Bulk Packaging Market Size Growth - By material (Plastic, Metal, Wood, Others), By Product Type (Pails, Drums, Intermediate Bulk Containers, Boxes, Others), By Application (Food and Beverages, Pharmaceutical and Chemical, Industrial, Others), and By Region: Statistics Reports, Supply & Demand Analysis, Global Opportunity 2025-2032

Global Market Synopsis, Forecast, Trend, and Growth Up To 2032

The Rigid Bulk Packaging Market size was valued at US$ 9.83 Bn in 2025, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.68% from 2025 to 2032 and reach US$ 13.44 Bn by the end of 2032. Global demand in the food and beverages as well as pharmaceutical sectors is triggering growth within the rigid bulk packaging industry.

Trend in Rigid Bulk Packaging Market

• The rapidly rising pace of industrialization worldwide highly promotes the demand for rigid bulk packaging solutions for the safe and effective transportation and storage of different goods.
• For stiff bulk packaging, a logic of optimization in the bulk transportation is being done as a result of the altering dynamics of the supply chain in the global market. The economy of scale is achieved through the up-scaling in bulk packaging.
• The excellence in recycling and reusing all aspects of rigid bulk packaging, such as wood, metal, and some plastics, mirrors the fast-growing demand for sustainable packaging.
• Stiff bulk packaging will be appropriate where demand from retail and e-commerce is most likely for these because they ensure product safety. Advances in material science offer new, stiffening, stronger, more durable, and sustainable bulk packaging materials.

Top Key Players

Some of the major players functioning in the rigid bulk packaging industry include:

• Core Plastech International Inc.
• Greif Inc.
• BWAY Corporation
• SCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KGaA
• Snyder Industries
• Berry Global Inc.
• Rehrig Pacific Company
• Schoeller Allibert
• Hoover Ferguson Group, Inc.
• Packaging Corporation of America
• Amcor PLC
• Mondi Group PLC
• Nefab Packaging AB
• Taihua Group
• Cleveland Steel Container

Segment Analysis

Material Type

Manufacturing plastic for packaging also happens to be much cheaper compared to other materials, thereby finding a great place in the industry. Also, with ever-increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable rigid packaging solutions, market popularity of metal, wood, and glass alternatives is picking up momentum in the rigid bulk packaging sector.

The metal segment is the growth leader in rigid bulk packaging based on material type, and this is due to a global shift towards more environmentally friendly packaging alternatives. Metal is also recycled more than materials such as plastic.

Rigid metal packaging creates products with an airtight, temperature-controlled, and light-resistant surrounding, ultimately extending the shelf life of the products. This is highly useful to the food, beverages, and cosmetic industries.

Wood rigid bulk packaging is gaining popularity in the market due to a change in customer behavior and increasing demands for environmental-friendly packaging, including wooden and plywood. Wood is a natural and renewable material. If it is cut, glued, and used for packaging, the carbon that was accumulated inside the wood stays inside, thereby not releasing carbon into the atmosphere, and the net CO2 emissions are reduced.

Product Type Segment

The IBC segment of rigid bulk packaging led the way. Intermediate bulk containers are the gold standard in rigid bulk packaging owing to their ability to be economical. They find especially useful use in transporting liquids in bulk so that they can later be portioned out into smaller containers for end users.

Businesses cut down on costs by shipping bigger containers rather than multiple smaller ones. IBCs are also very robust and recyclable, thus highly ideal for carrying dangerous substances, especially considering the inclusion of double valves. Such attributes make filling and draining the tank easier. IBCs have universal designs such that they pile nicely and are not difficult to handle.

The rigid bulk packaging bulk boxes is the fastest-growing product type due to their durability and customization which adds to brand recognition. Rigid bulk boxes provide further protection against moisture and other environmental elements. Pails are also picking up in the rigid bulk packaging space. Pails are widely used as shipping and transportation containers due to the growth of manufacturing sectors in the emerging economies.

Application Segment

The market is segmented into food, beverage, pharmaceutical and chemicals, industrial, and others. Market by pharmaceutical segment and fastest growing category in the market: The total increasing demand for pharmaceutical products across the globe, is being observed to support the market. With an increased investment in health care and rising prevalence of chronic diseases, transportation demand is growing.

Environmental Regulations and a Shift to Flexible Packaging to Become the Major Challenge

A strict set of environmental regulations is being adopted by a number of countries to reduce the effects of hard-to-recycle materials such as some plastics. Single use plastics have been banned in some countries, while others make plastic offsetting schemes mandatory for business use.

In some countries certain materials used in rigid bulk packaging have been declared hazardous, and others have placed limits on the number of times they can be recycled. In other regions, the lack of enough recycling infrastructure and trash management systems presents a barrier to industrial development in the rigid bulk packaging market.

The climbing cost of renting and owning storage space has paved the way for increased usage of flexible packaging, which is more adaptable compared to its rigid bulk cousins. Some opt for this to cut back on transportation costs.

Market Scope

Tailoring Rigid Bulk Packaging to the Needs of Specific Industries: A Route to Opportunities

Rigid bulk packaging companies offer customized solutions to the market by providing varied designs and capacities. Manufacturing recycled plastic products, jars, and clamshells further diversify businesses, especially in fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets. Companies opt to adopt advanced packaging techniques as the region continues to increase its demand for produce and healthcare packaging solutions.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for the highest market share mainly due to rapid economic growth of its emerging economies.

Industrialization and urbanization in emerging economies contribute to this industry's growth.

Environmental regulations and push toward flexible packaging in rigid bulk packaging is the biggest challenge.

Plastics are utilized the most under types of materials for the rigid bulk packaging market

• The IBCs occupy the maximum area, divided according to product type.
• Food and Beverages has the highest utilization of rigid bulk packaging of all applications.

This is a rigid type of bulk packaging referring to high-strength packaging containers that are mainly used for transporting perishable, delicate, and volatile products. Packaging in this way ensures that sensitive products are always safely transported. Heavy-duty materials such as high-strength plastics, metals, or wood generally are chosen for manufacturing rigid bulk packaging.

In the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial chemical transportation industries, rigid bulk packaging is widely applied. Industrial applications of rigid bulk packaging ensure the safe as well as efficient transportation of such pharmaceutical drugs, perishables, and volatile chemicals that are involved in the related industries.

Since the product does not leak nor get contaminated using this form of packaging, the demand for bulk containers arises due to the global push towards reusable forms of packaging. Additionally, they have the added benefit of being extremely cost-effective compared to smaller containers.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific Market held the largest market share in the rigid bulk packaging market. The region houses several of the biggest emerging economies of the world with a high demand for manufacturing & construction. A high disposable income and changing lifestyles of a young demographic through the rise of e-commerce have spurred demand for all kinds of goods, leading to growing trade.

As a response to this, the government has introduced more stringent environmental regulations forcing recyclable and sustainable packaging solutions. This resulted in an increased demand for rigidity in rigid bulk packaging that had to be of high quality, durable and reusable.

Make in India transforms India into a global manufacturing hub. This in turn attracts a greater investment in the manufacturing infrastructure, thus calling for the need of rigid bulk packaging supporting various industries.

North America is the fastest growing region in the space, with an expected CAGR of XX% during the forecast period. It has robust manufacturing industries and important market players in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and automotive sectors. This is causing high growth in the rigid bulk packaging space.

New Development

• In May 2024, Amcor PLC announced the launch of its Amcor Innovation Center Europe (AICE) at Ghent, Belgium. The center is touted to be a medium for innovation in new material technologies to make packaging sustainable and performant.
• Amcor PLC launched a two-step, lightweight technology that removes more than half of the material and weight from the finish of their bottle, lowering both manufacturing costs and carbon emissions, as of October 2022.

Segments Covered in the Report

By material

• Plastic
• Metal
• Wood
• Others

By Product Type

• Pails
• Drums
• Intermediate Bulk Containers
• Boxes
• Others

By Application

• Food and Beverages
• Pharmaceutical and Chemical
• Industrial
• Others

By Region

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa