Overview
Global Transit Packaging Market reached US$ 55.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 76.8 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period 2023-2030.
New technology advancements and innovative materials are expected to thrive the transit packaging market, ensuring goods industry safety and sustainability in transportation. Water-based adhesives are employed to secure polybags during transport, while stretch film with cold-based adhesives enhances packaging. Automated load containment systems utilize rotary ring stretch wrapping for tightly wrapped consumer goods like macaroni and dairy products. Stretch hood technology safeguards produce packaging from moisture and automated storage systems prioritize shelf life.
Smart packaging technology, such as BEUMER fillpac FFS systems, gently fill and seal bags, while fully automated palletizing like BEUMER paletpac and robot palletisers ensure precise stacking and handling. Transport packaging solutions prevent load shifting and tampering, exemplified by BEUMER stretch hood technology. Customized solutions cater to diverse packaging needs, providing optimal solutions for efficient loading and transportation.
North America holds the largest position in the transit packaging market with a growing goods trading sector. According to a United States Trade Representative report, trade volume of over US$ 7.0 trillion in exports and imports of goods and services in 2022, U.S. stands as the world’s second-largest trading nation, closely trailing China. The vibrant trade landscape fosters a high demand for transit packaging solutions to ensure the safe and secure transport of goods across borders.
Dynamics
Rising Trade Drives Demand for Efficient Transit Packaging
The transit packaging market is expected to be driven by a growing merchandise trade market, the increase in merchandise exports among G20 countries, including the rebound in economic activity in China and strong sales of vehicles and parts in North America and the European Union, highlights the expanding trade volume across regions. The surge in trade necessitates efficient transit packaging solutions to ensure the safe and secure movement of goods over longer distances and across various modes of transport.
According to the OECD report, in Q1 2023, G20 merchandise exports rebounded by 2.2% compared to Q4 2022, indicating a recovery in economic activity. European Union experienced a 3.0% increase in exports, driven by higher machinery shipments from France, Germany and Italy. Robust sales of steel and electronics fueled an 8.6% growth in Chinese merchandise exports. The growth trends point to an escalating need for transit packaging to ensure the safe and secure transportation of goods across borders and regions.
As merchandise exports rebound, especially in regions like North America, United Kingdom and China, there is a heightened need for reliable packaging that can withstand the rigors of transportation and protect goods from damage. The increase in exports of machinery, electronics, steel and other goods emphasizes the diverse range of products being traded and the subsequent need for tailored packaging solutions to cater to their unique requirements.
Sustainability Trends
The transit packaging market is expected to be driven by sustainable and smart packaging technology by addressing environmental concerns and aligning with the growing trend towards eco-conscious practices. As sustainability gains prominence in public perception and business operations, the adoption of environmentally friendly transport packaging solutions is driving market expansion. The sustainable alternatives, often crafted from biodegradable or recyclable materials, offer advantages like reduced waste during transportation and delivery, mitigating the adverse environmental impact associated with conventional packaging methods.
Researchers have introduced smart packaging poised to revolutionize the landscape of food transportation and logistics. The innovative approach, led by Chanyong (Chase) Cao and his team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University, aims to monitor perishable food products’ conditions during transit, offering a multifaceted solution to enhance supply chains, cut costs and ensure higher-quality food for consumers. A pivotal advantage of this technology lies in its commitment to environmental sustainability. Unlike traditional battery-powered systems, which not only incur significant costs but also contribute to pollution, the D-TENG (Triboelectric Nanogenerator) system presents an eco-friendly alternative.
Inflation Challenges Amid Growing Demand
The transit packaging market is severely impacted by globally inflation leading to significant price increases that have a negative impact on the transit packaging industry. According to the "Packaging World" report as consumer retail demand remains robust and total retail sales have achieved a 10.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the past two years, the need for packaging materials has surged. However, the demand has often outpaced the growth in packaging production which leads to a tight market for food packaging materials such as beverage cans, corrugated boxes and PET milk bottles.
The impact of inflation is seen across various packaging materials, such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum. The inflationary trend negatively affects the cost structure of the transit packaging market, making it more expensive to source materials for packaging solutions. As a result, businesses involved in transit packaging are facing higher production costs, reduced profit margins and potential challenges in maintaining affordability for customers.

Segment Analysis
The global transit packaging market is segmented based on material, packaging, application and region.
Critical Role of Transit Packaging in Safeguarding Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical products hold the largest share in the transit packaging market, particularly in safeguarding the integrity of temperature-sensitive products like vaccines and pharmaceuticals during transportation. With stringent regulations governing the sector, transit packaging ensures that products remain within specified temperature ranges to maintain their efficacy and safety. The is crucial as even minor temperature fluctuations can render pharmaceuticals ineffective or even harmful.
The significance of transit packaging becomes even more apparent when considering the global statistic by WHO that attributes 25% of vaccine ineffectiveness at the final destination to uncontrolled temperatures. Cutting-edge advancements in transit packaging technology have led to innovations such as Phase Change Materials for passive systems and integrated temperature loggers with real-time monitoring and GPS capabilities. The technological progress not only ensures temperature control but also provides enhanced visibility and assurance during transit.
Geographical Penetration
North America Leads Global Transit Packaging Market Amid Trade Surge
North America is the largest region in the global transit packaging market with growing goods trade in the region. The U.S.’s formidable trade relations with more than 200 countries and territories globally, including substantial partnerships with Canada, Mexico, China and the European Union, underscore the critical importance of efficient and reliable packaging for maintaining the integrity of exports and imports.
According to States Trade Representative report, U.S. goods exports to the world escalated by 17.5 percent from 2021 to reach U.S.$ 2.1 trillion in 2022 and goods imports from the world surged by 14.6 percent from 2021 to total U.S.$ 3.2 trillion in 2022. As trade volumes continue to surge, the North American transit packaging market is poised for further expansion, offering lucrative opportunities for packaging technology and material providers to cater to the diverse requirements of this dynamic trading landscape.

Competitive Landscape
The major global players in the market include Sonoco Products Company, Smurfit Kappa Group, Greif, Inc., Mondi Group, Packaging Corporation of America, Sealed Air Corporation, DS Smith Plc orora Limited, International Paper Company and WestRock Company.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis
COVID-19 made a significant impact on the transit packaging industry affected by changes in consumer behavior, increased demand for online grocery shopping and the need to maintain food safety and reduce waste. The pandemic led to a surge in online grocery shopping, with some retailers experiencing a 500% increase in order volumes. As consumers shifted to online purchasing, transit packaging had to adapt to ensure the safe transportation of products to consumers’ homes.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of optimizing shelf life and managing demand fluctuations. Automated storage and retrieval systems were utilized to prioritize items based on expiration dates, helping to minimize waste and improve overall efficiency in the supply chain. To address the challenges posed by the pandemic, food suppliers and distributors turned to technology and advanced materials in transit packaging. The solutions were crucial in maintaining food safety and reducing the risk of contamination during transportation.
Russia-Ukraine War Impact
The Russia-Ukraine war made a significant impact on the transit packaging industry affecting various aspects of the packaging industry. The ongoing conflict and its consequences have led to disruptions in the supply chain, production shutdowns, changes in commodity prices and increased uncertainty for businesses operating in the region. The conflict has resulted in an exodus of major Western companies from the region, including closures of packaging and production facilities in both Ukraine and Russia.
Many international companies with operations in the conflict-affected region have exited the market. It includes businesses involved in packaging, such as Irish paper packaging company Smurfit Kappa and Finnish food packaging provider Huhtam?ki. The exit of these companies has led to a decrease in production capacity and availability of packaging products. Rising energy prices have also indirectly affected packaging production costs.
By Material
- Cardboard
- Corrugated Board
- Plastic Containers
- Plastic Pallets
- Wooden Crates
- Wooden Pallets
- Others
By Packaging
- Transit Cartons
- Transit Wooden Crates
- Transit Containers
- Transit Corrugated Boxes
- Transit Barrels
- Transit Intermediate Bulk Containers
- Transit Strapping
- Other
By Application
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food and Beverages
- Clothing and Textiles
- Automotive Parts
- Others
By Region
- North America
o U.S.
o Canada
o Mexico
- Europe
o Germany
o UK
o France
o Italy
o Russia
o Rest of Europe
- South America
o Brazil
o Argentina
o Rest of South America
- Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o Australia
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Middle East and Africa
Key Developments
- In May 2023, Tosca, a company specializing in reusable packaging solutions, introduced a new life cycle analysis (LCA) tool in May 2023. The tool is designed to promote more sustainable practices in the transportation of bulk liquids by advocating for the adoption of Tosca’s foldable Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) solutions.
- In April 2023, Nexans, a company specializing in cables and cabling solutions, unveiled its latest innovation, the Mobiway MOB drum kit. The smart packaging solution is designed to revolutionize the transportation and installation of cables for medium to large-sized building projects.
- In July 2023, Kite Packaging, a leading online packaging supplier, introduced an updated pallet range that encompasses various eco-friendly options to cater to different needs. The new range includes nestable and rackable plastic pallets, timber pallets and press wood pallets. Kite Packaging’s nestable plastic pallets are designed to be durable, lightweight and cost-effective for palletizing goods.
Why Purchase the Report?
- To visualize the global transit packaging market segmentation based on material, packaging, application and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
- Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
- Excel data sheet with numerous data points of transit packaging market-level with all segments.
- PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
- Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major players.
The global transit packaging market report would provide approximately 61 tables, 70 figures and 208 Pages.
Target Audience 2023


    • Manufacturers/ Buyers
    • Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
    • Research Professionals
    • Emerging Companies