Rigid Bulk Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Rigid Bulk Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 54.83 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 71.12 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.34% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Key Highlights

• As the volume of resources and products transported across regions continues to rise, the significance of bulk packaging has become paramount. The rigid bulk packaging market comprises solutions for storing and transporting bulk liquids and granulated substances. These include food ingredients, solvents, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and even industrial equipment, all handled in large quantities.
• The rigid bulk packaging market is closely tied to global import and export activities. Heavy manufacturing industries show a strong demand for products like drums and pails. In contrast, logistics and short-distance transportation of goods heavily rely on materials handling containers and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
• With a growing demand for chemicals and petroleum lubricants across diverse end-user industries and a pronounced emphasis on bolstering supply chain capabilities, the need for industrial steel drums is set to surge. As reported by InfralineEnergy, India ranks as the second-largest lubricant consumer in its region and holds the third position globally, trailing only the United States and China.
• Lubricants play a crucial role in processing industries and are vital for automobile parts, especially brakes and engines, ensuring their smooth operation. The market is witnessing growth, fueled by rising imports and exports of piston engine lubricants and an increasing consumer emphasis on vehicle performance. Industries such as chemicals, mining, and unconventional energy are anticipated to be the largest consumers of industrial lubricants. This trend bolsters the demand for industrial lubricants and hints at a heightened use of rigid packaging in the market.
• Plastic pollution has significantly contributed to environmental degradation, with numerous studies highlighting its detrimental effects. In response, European regions, alongside several other nations, have enacted regulations to curb plastic usage globally. These worldwide legislative measures have forced companies to innovate, focusing on sustainable and reusable products in industrial packaging.

Rigid Bulk Packaging Market Trends

The Industrial Containers and Drums Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Share

• Industrial drums are frequently used for transporting and storing hazardous and non-hazardous commodities. They are most commonly used in the chemical, fertilizer, oil, and petroleum industries. One factor supporting the growth of the industrial drum market is the continued expansion of these segments and rising international trade activities over the past 10 years.
• Traditional blue plastic drums are familiar in storage facilities, supermarkets, and warehouses. Many industrial objects fit in blue plastic drums. Food-grade plastic drums are ideal for securely storing and transporting food. Additionally, plastic drums used in the food business should be properly decontaminated and certified as safe before transporting and storing consumables over an extended period.
• Further, the expanding agricultural industry in the country is anticipated to generate considerable demand for steel drums, particularly in chemicals, food grains, and fertilizer applications within the region. According to the International Grains Council (IGC) report published in April 2024, global grain production has consistently increased from 2,227 million metric tons in FY 2020/2021 to 2,301 million metric tons in FY 2023/2024. This rising demand trend is expected to continue during the forecast period, leading to an increased demand for rigid bulk packaging containers and drums.
• One of the most common types of industrial storage is plastic drums. The long-term storage and transportation of large quantities of industrial commodities serve multiple functions and offer numerous advantages. Most plastic drums are blue and made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), a robust type of plastic that can be molded easily and lasts for many years. Plastic drums come in a variety of sizes, often ranging from 30 to 220 liters.
• Moreover, fiber drums are becoming more prominent in the chemical and fertilizers industry because they improve productivity and reduce expenses. The expansion of fertilizer and chemical traffic between various countries is predicted to accelerate the growth of different industrial drums.
• Further, the rise in the demand for chemicals and petroleum lubricants from various end-user industries and a significant focus on strengthening the supply chain capability is expected to drive the need for industrial steel drums. According to InfralineEnergy, India is the second-largest lubricant consumer in the region and the third-largest globally, after the United States and China.

Asia-Pacific to Hold the Largest Market Share

• The rapidly evolving industrial and manufacturing industry in Asia-Pacific is expected to increase the usage of rigid bulk packaging as manufacturers continue expanding their manufacturing bases to emerging economies like China, India, and Indonesia. China has shown optimistic growth in the production of fiber drums. In terms of value, it has a strong hold over other countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.
• The rising concerns for sophisticated product packaging solutions by local and renowned players have translated into better quality fiber drums. The growing retail industry and the increasing preference for lightweight bulk containers such as recyclable fiber drums are key factors affecting the fiber drums market. The primary benefit of utilizing fiber drums is their recyclability, leading to a positive outlook for the rigid bulk market in Asia-Pacific.
• The Chinese economy maintains a high speed of growth, which has been stimulated by consecutive increases in consumer consumption and capital investment, industrial output, and import and export for over two decades. The demand for industrial packaging in China has followed a similar trend in the past few decades. Also, both production and demand are expected to continue to grow in the next decade, which is expected to support the growth of the industrial packaging market in the country.
• India is the world's top supplier of generic pharmaceuticals, according to the Indian Brand Equity Federation. The Indian pharmaceutical industry supplies more than half of the global demand for vaccines, 40% of the generic demand in the United States, and 25% of all pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom. Globally, India ranks third in terms of pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value. The country's pharmaceutical packaging business will grow as the pharmaceutical industry grows, driving the rigid bulk packaging market in the region.
• Also, the growth of chemical and allied industry exports from Asian countries is driving the demand for rigid bulk packaging products like drums, containers, drums, and pails. Data from the Reserve Bank of India and the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence reveal that in fiscal year 2023, India exported organic and inorganic chemicals worth over INR 2435.36 billion (USD 29.02 billion). This marked an uptick from the prior fiscal year's valuation of INR 2189.07 billion (USD 26.08 billion). As a result, this surge in chemical exports is poised to strengthen the market during the forecast period.

Rigid Bulk Packaging Industry Overview

The rigid bulk packaging market is fragmented, with many major players like Greif Inc., FDL Packaging Group, Mondi PLC, and BWAY Corporation. Additionally, the other major players in the packaging market are adopting acquisition and partnership strategies to enter the market and grow offerings.

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