Retort Packaging Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Material Type (Plastic, Aluminum Foil, Paper and Paperboard and Others), By Package Type (Pouches, Trays, Cartoon, Bottles and Cans), By End Users (Food, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products and Others) and Region Forecast 2019-2030

Retort Packaging Market size was valued at US$ 4,175.9 million in 2019 and US$ 5,457.6 million in 2023 with a growth rate of 6.9% during the historic years. In 2024, the market valued at US$ 5,776.9 million and is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period (2024 - 2030) and is estimated to be valued at US$ 8,673.0 million in 2030.

The growth of the market is due to its prolonged food's shelf life and preserving its quality. Using heat processing to destroy microbes, food is sealed in a container and then packed. Because of their lightweight, enduring design, and ease of use, retort pouches are frequently seen in prepared foods and beverages. In addition, there is a growing market for packaged food, technological advancements in packaging, and a growing consciousness of food safety.

Key Players 

The Retort Packaging Market players are Amcor PLC., Mondi PLC, ProAmpac LLC, Coveris Holdings SA, Tetra Pak International SA, Winpak Ltd., Sealed Air Corporation, Sonoco Product Company, Clifton Packaging Group Limited, Clondalkin Industries BV, Berry Global, Inc., Impak Corporation and Huhtamaki.

Key Takeaways

• North America accounted for the largest market share of 38.9% in the market in 2023.
• Based on material type, in 2023, the plastic segment accounted for a larger revenue share and is projected to grow with a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024-2030.
• Based on package type, the sales data for retort packaging indicate a predominant preference for pouches, which account for a considerable 67.1% of the market share, while Trays represent a mere 16.5%.
• Based on end users, the sales data for retort packaging indicate a major segment for Food, which accounts for 70.3% of the market share, while Beverages represent a mere 18.9%.

Facts & Figures

• As per a Business Standard report published in February 2024, India's expenditure on beverages and processed food items rose to a maximum of 10.64% during the fiscal year 2022–2023. Retort packing became more and more in demand as a result of this rise.
• A National Library of Medicine analysis states that there is room for online meal delivery to grow by 25% to 30% annually starting in 2020 when major global players like Uber Eats and a few Indian startups, Zomato and Swiggy, enter the market.
• The US Census Bureau expects sales by supermarkets and food stores to reach US$ 846.38 billion in the year 2023, making it a significant surge from the total of US$ 661.84 billion in the year 2019. With such growth, it is essential that companies move towards using ecologically friendly packaging not only to meet regulations but also to meet customer demands.

Key Developments

• In February 2024, Amcor, in partnership with Stonyfield Organic, the nation's top organic yogurt producer, and Cheer Pack North America, a prominent spouted pouch packaging manufacturer, was set to introduce the market's inaugural all-polyethylene (PE) spouted pouch.
• In 2022, Mondi plc (‘Mondi’) acqquired Duino mill near Trieste (Italy) from the Burgo Group for a total consideration of €40 million.
• In 2021, Mondi launched RetortPouch Recyclable
• In 2020, the company introduced the first recyclable flexible retort pouch in 2020. The product, featuring Amcor's AmLite HeatFlex Recyclable solution, has great potential for being used in many retort applications for products requiring high-barrier, high-heat-resistant packaging.
• In 2019, the Amcor acquired Bemis Company, Inc ("Bemis"), a global manufacturer of flexible packaging products based in the United States, for the purchase price of $5.2 billion in an all-stock transaction.

Retort PackagingMarket Segmentation

By Material Type: Under Material Type, Plastic segment accounted for US$ 2,763.8 Mn in 2019 and has grown at 6.9% CAGR over the historic years (2019-2023). One of the main factors driving the plastic segment of the market is the increasing demand for flexibility and effectiveness in food preservation. The shelf life of packaged goods is extended by plastics with exceptional barrier qualities against moisture, oxygen, and light, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

By Package Type: By Package Type, Pouches segment accounted for US$ 2,839.2 Mn in 2019 and has grown at 6.6% CAGR over the historic years (2019-2023). T The growth for the segment is due to lighter and more compact nature of the retort pouches than traditional cans and jars, reducing shipping and storage costs. Additionally, many retort pouches are made from recyclable materials, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions.

By End User: The food segment accounted for US$ 2,944.8 Mn in 2019 and has grown at 6.8% CAGR over the historic years (2019-2023). Retort pouches are widely used as post-purchase retortable packaging for prepared foods and other items that are intended to be commercially sterilized following the point of sale. Pet owners value the mess-free, hygienic format of this wet pet food, which can be kept and served without refrigeration. the beverages segment accounted for US$ 778.3 Mn in 2019 and has grown at 7.2% CAGR over the historic years (2019-2023). Retort pouches are widely used to package a wide range of liquids, including ready-to-drink products, energy and sports drinks, juices, and soft drinks. It is projected that the market will expand favorably due to the increasing demand in recent years for a wide variety of beverages, particularly organic and nutritious ones.