Market Overview
The Thailand flexible packaging market reached US$ XX million in 2022 and is expected to record significant growth by reaching up to US$ XX million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.04% during the forecast period (2023-2030).
In its broadest sense, packaging is the technology of enclosing a product for storage, distribution, sale and use. Flexible packaging is packaging that is not rigid. Flexible packaging is constructed of materials that can easily change shape depending on the product’s nature. Packaging nowadays is used to preserve a product from spoilage and improve its overall aesthetic appeal, convey necessary information about the product and provide convenience for consumers in handling/carrying the goods.
Market Dynamics
Increased demand for plastic-based flexible packaging products coupled with rising technological innovation is a major market driver for the Thailand flexible packaging market. However, stringent environmental regulations for flexible plastic packaging could be a major market restraint.
Increased demand for plastic-based flexible packaging products coupled with a rise in technological innovation
Because of the increased popularity of plastic-based flexible packaging products among industrial buyers and consumers, the plastic-based flexible packaging segment accounted for a significant share of the flexible packaging market in Thailand in 2019. It will continue to do so throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, plastic packaging is progressively replacing metal and glass packaging (particularly for food products), with rising demand for flexible plastic packaging products and solutions. Plastic is the most popular material for flexible packaging because it is adaptable and can be made in various forms and sizes.
It is ideal for flexible packaging since it is flexible, resilient and adaptable. Because of its low handling and carriage costs, plastic-based flexible packaging is less expensive to ship than other types of packaging. Furthermore, consumers’ increased desire for convenience packaged meals globally is projected to influence plastic demand. Furthermore, many technological advancements have occurred in the industry, resulting in a growth in the number of new items offered by vendors to meet the diverse wants of their clients. Manufacturers are searching for packaging options that are both high–performing and can help keep manufacturing costs down. Packaging solutions for packaged food, beverage and personal care products must be highly competitive, cost-effective and visually appealing. Due to these demands, vendors have been forced to adopt new technology to innovate their product offerings.
For example, the flexible packaging industry in APAC has seen a change among its customers from simple paper bags to multilayer packaging solutions in recent years. Its multilayer packaging solutions are being developed using new materials, including self–venting films, which are utilized for packaging frozen food products that may be steam–cooked within the pack. The market is predicted to grow due to new applications for flexible packaging solutions for food and beverages and other consumer products. Such technological advancements will likely assist vendors in introducing new goods and services and competing in Thailand’s highly fragmented flexible packaging market.
Stringent environmental regulations for flexible plastic packaging
Plastics are polymers often manufactured from crude oil and are not recyclable; thus, they end up in landfills or the ocean. Plastics take a long time to break down naturally and during that time. It emits toxic poisons into the environment. Mismanaged land-based plastic trash, particularly in packaging, causes considerable economic consequences globally and in Thailand by lowering the productivity of key natural systems and clogging urban infrastructure.
The Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979), regulates food packaging in Thailand, prohibiting the production, importation and distribution of dangerous foods and food packaging. Food packaging makes up the majority of municipal solid garbage in coastal waterways, causing significant harm to animals and marine life. International jurisdictional organizations have introduced legislation linked to food packaging to counteract the detrimental consequences of plastic packaging. Sustainability, namely legislative and public concerns about single-use packaging waste, are merging with other powerful trends to force significant changes in consumer packaging. Regulators are taking action and fast–moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses and retailers are proactively making strong commitments to improve package sustainability and radically rethink their packaging systems.
COVID-19 Impact Analysis
Despite the outbreak of COVID–19, the market for flexible packaging like plastic bags and seals grew as people became more aware of health and hygiene issues and the increased practice of using–and–throwing products. The industry thrived throughout the pandemic due to the ongoing availability of e-commerce and delivery services. For example, Thailand’s largest plastic manufacturer, TPBI, recently announced that revenues from plastic bags and e-commerce packaging have increased since March 2020. Thailand’s demand for plastic packaging is growing, according to the Thai Plastics Industry Association. Flexible plastic–based projects are likely to be in high demand across various products and industries, including beverages, food and water, household goods and pharmaceuticals. Plastic’s low cost, ease of processability, formability, chemical resistance, lightweight and physical qualities account for its widespread use in food packaging.
Toppan launched a food packaging system for freshness preservation and less environmental impact in February 2020. Green Flat is a food packaging method that meets the need to eliminate plastic packaging and replace traditional skin packs. Single-use plastics for packaging products have increased in supermarkets. It was the urgent safety reaction that places globally implemented to protect people’s health and safety. Despite Thailand’s ban on plastic bags, which went into effect in January 2020, the amount of plastic garbage generated increased by 15% with COVID–19.
Despite the COVID–19 related lockdown, growth is rising. With exports and domestic sales increases, sales volume has climbed by 40–50 percent. With the shutdown, TPBI saw a 10% rise in sales in the food packaging category, prompting many people to panic–buy foodstuffs. Due to increased demand, Eka Global, a Thai plastic packaging firm, has increased the manufacturing of their lifetime flexible packaging to 20 million pieces per month from 8 million pieces per month. Furthermore, plastics as flexible packaging in Thailand are expected to rise over the projection period. The increase will significantly impact tobacco packaging and the tobacco products business.
Other industries, besides tobacco and products, are likely to perform well. The flexible packaging sector is expected to see significant expansion in the non–alcoholic beverage market. Its development can be ascribed to Thai consumers’ hectic lifestyles, fueling the need for small–sized, easy–to–store/open/close packs and on–the–go packaging.
Segment Analysis
The Thailand flexible packaging market is classified based on packaging form, raw material and application.
The growing appeal of gas separation by the membrane in low-carbon technologies
In 2020, the pouches segment had a market share of 26.6%. Stand–up pouches, retort pouches and lay flat/pillow pouches are examples of flexible product containers sold through the B2B model. The market’s expansion is fueled by the ease with which pouches may be used and their persuasiveness. Improvements in economic conditions and technological developments resulting in reduced weight and lower prices have contributed to the market’s rise. Pouches are widely utilized in the food and beverage industry, accounting for most of the income. The flexible packing market is expected to rise in response to increasing demand for household care and retail.
Increasing consumer preferences, technological improvements such as lightweight, flexible packaging and economic benefits in the anticipated time will drive the market. The rising need for customized products is driving the market for stand–up pouches, rising demand for beverage and food packaging, attractive packaging that aids in product promotion, cost-effective for brand owners, easy, convenient, shatterproof and lightweight products. Growing prospects in shelf-stable foods, unbreakable, easy–to–use and transportable foods and reducing technology prices for usage in retort pouches are boosting the market growth. Technology developments have increased the number of retort pouches processed each minute, reducing the lead time for retort pouch preparation.
Plastic is the most widely used material in retort pouches, with polyethylene accounting for a significant portion of the market. In Thailand’s Flexible Plastic Packaging market, the Plastic Pouches category is predicted to grow the fastest. Pouches serve the same purpose as bags, although they are significantly smaller and more compact. It is used to keep small quantities of goods for a brief period. Plastic sachets for personal care goods and flat and stand–up retort pouches for food and beverage packaging are among them. Its sterile retort packets are handled in an aseptic manner. Plastic pouches are also used for packaging drugs and medical devices such as surgical tools, dental equipment, disposable syringes and IV drips in the medical industry.
Competitive Landscape
The Thailand flexible packaging market is competitive and has several major players such as Amcor plc, InnoPack, Huhtamaki, Prepack Thailand Co., Ltd., PONGSILP PLASTIC CO., LTD., Siam Flexible Industries Co. Ltd, Thung Hua Sinn Co., Ltd., Sealed Air Corporation, Toppan Printing Co, Ltd. and Tetra Pak Group, among others. The market is fragmented and market players employ market tactics such as mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contributions and collaborations to gain a competitive advantage and recognition.
Prepack Thailand Co., Ltd.
Overview: Prepack Thailand Co., Ltd. Focuses on manufacturing flexible packaging products that find applications in consumer products. The company’s product portfolio includes personal care and hygiene products, frozen food products, food and snack products, rice products, chemicals, industrial products and consumer products.
The company ensures its products’ safety, cleanliness and quality and puts them through strict scrutiny. The company is considered one of the companies in class 10,000 regarding its cleanliness and environmentally friendly factor. The company complies with quality accreditations such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, TUV NORD GMP, BS OHSAS 18001 and HACCP.
Product Portfolio:
• Personal Care and Hygiene Products: These are flexible packaging products manufactured by the company that finds applications in personal and hygiene care products such as diapers and sanitary goods.
Key Development:
• On August 11, 2021, Prepack Thailand Co., Ltd., one of Thailand’s leading flexible packaging suppliers, expanded its production capacity and improved printing quality by purchasing an Offset CI8 printing machine and an ML1 MC laminator.
Why Purchase the Report?
• To visualize the Thailand flexible packaging market segmentation based on packaging form, material and application, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the Thailand flexible packaging market by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of gas separation membrane market-level with four segments.
• PDF report consisting of cogently put together market analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major market players
Thailand flexible packaging market report would provide approximately 59 tables, 53 figures and almost 169 pages.
Target Audience 2023
• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies