Overview
Global Retort Packaging Market reached US$ 4.12 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 6.05 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 4.92% during the forecast period 2023-2030.
The retort packaging allows the sterilization of food products to extend their shelf life. With the growing demand for convenience and ready-to-eat food products among global consumers, the demand for retort packaging is also rapidly increasing due to the high use of this packaging system in the food industries to improve the shelf life of the product.
The availability of retort packaging in various types such as pouches, trays and cartons in multiple forms of flexible, rigid and semi-rigid categories helps in easy and convenient applications of these packaging materials. The retort packaging is used as a new variety and space-saving packing for food, beverage and pharmaceutical products.
North America, dominates the retort packaging market, capturing the largest market. The region’s rising demand for convenience food is leading to a greater demand for retort packaging in that region. In March 2023, in accordance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Surdry North America (SNA) introduced SteriNet21, a new retort control software designed to improve food quality control and securely record all food thermal processing data.
Dynamics
Increasing Demand for Convenient and Ready-to-Eat Food
The rising demand for convenience and ready-to-eat food is significantly driving the retort packaging market growth as it has the potential to preserve food quality, extend shelf life, and maintain nutritional value without the need for refrigeration. Retort packaging provides easy storage aligning perfectly with the fast-paced lifestyle and consumer desire for convenient or ready meals.
In July 2023, Italian food manufacturer La Doria increased the capacity of its filling line by purchasing a third SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling machine for canned goods that have a high solid particle content in SIG carton packs. La Doria can now fill food products in SIG SafeBloc carton packs, utilizing the many logistical and environmentally friendly advantages of this packaging solution, thanks to the SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling process.
Growing Demand for Lightweight and Compact Packaging
The market for retort packaging has grown dramatically as a result of the growing need for small and lightweight packaging materials. Retort packaging, which is lightweight and convenient to handle and transport while preserving product integrity, has become a feasible option.
Food, beverage, and healthcare product industries are continually looking for packaging solutions that strike a balance between durability and decreased weight and size. Because they are flexible and lightweight, retort pouches meet this demand by preserving contents without adding extra bulk, which maximizes the effectiveness of storage and transit. In September 2020, Amcor, a leading packaging company, and Nestl? introduced the first-ever recyclable flexible retort pouch. These flexible retort packaging alternatives to metal cans have well-known advantages like lightweight, resource efficiency, and ease of transportation.
Temperature Sensitivity
Temperature sensitivity is significantly restraining the growth of the global retort packaging market, during the packaging process the pouches, and others are subjected to higher temperatures. Heat-sensitive products, such as those with delicate flavors, textures, or nutritional profiles, may experience quality degradation or undesirable changes during the high-temperature retort process.
Furthermore, such high temperatures could restrict the types of products that can be packaged which could affect the growth and adoption rate for retort packaging for larger products, hence, the temperature sensitivity could hamper the growth of the global retort packaging market.

Segment Analysis
The global retort packaging market is segmented based on product, form, material, application and region.
Rising Demand for Flexible Retort Pouches
The retort pouches segment holds the maximum share in the global retort packaging market, consumers are highly adopting these retort pouches, as these pouches are lightweight, flexible in nature, and also use heat and pressure during the packing process, which helps maintain freshness and quality over a long period. Hence, such factors can help in increasing the market growth.
Furthermore, as the demand for these packed pouches is increasing, manufacturing companies are launching innovative products. for instance, In April 2021, ProAmpac, a manufacturer of flexible packaging products, launched ProActive PCR, a retort pouch. ProActive PCR Retort pouches are made for packing food for both humans and pets, and they are FDA and EU-approved for food contact in retort applications.
Geographical Penetration
Growing Packaging Industry in North America
Convenience is driving demand for ready-to-eat meals in North America, where retort packing is frequently used for preservation. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, taking up almost 19% of the $177 billion US packaging market, flexible packaging is the second-biggest packaging category in the country.
The region is at the forefront of technological developments, promoting improvements in shelf-life, food quality preservation, and retort packaging methods. North America’s busy lives necessitate quick, on-the-go meal options, which retort packing effectively delivers. The expansion of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries also contributes to the demand for specialized retort packaging, which is crucial for medical supplies and devices.


COVID-19 Impact Analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a greater demand in the retort packaging industry. Retort packaging saw a spike in demand at first because it was a convenient way to store shelf-stable goods like canned goods and ready-to-eat meals when consumers stocked up on non-perishables during lockdowns and uncertainty.
However, there were also other challenges that the epidemic brought with it. Disruptions in the global supply chain resulted in logistical difficulties and pricing adjustments by affecting the availability of raw materials and packaging components.
Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis
The Russia-Ukraine war impacted the supply chain in the region affecting the retort packaging industry. The conflict caused production and export problems in Ukraine, a major producer of raw materials used in packaging, including steel, aluminum, and agricultural items. These interruptions caused variations in the cost and availability of raw materials, which affected the production of retort packaging around the globe.
By Product

  • Pouches
    o Stand-up Pouches
    o Back-seal Quad
    o Spouted Pouches
    o Gusseted Pouches
  • Tray
  • Cartons
  • Others
    By Form
  • Flexible
  • Rigid
  • Semi-rigid
    By Material
  • Cast Polypropylene
  • Nylon
  • Polyester
  • Polyethylene
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Paper & Paperboard
  • Others
    By Application
  • Food


o Sea Food
o Pet Food
o Baby Food
o Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE)
o Soups & Sauces
o Others

  • Beverages
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • 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 October 2021, Mondi, a provider of paper and packaging solutions, expanded its range of sustainable premium food and pet food packaging by launching RetortPouch Recyclable. For a variety of meals and wet pet food products, the new high-barrier pouch will take the role of intricate, multi-layered, and non-recyclable packaging.
  • In April 2023, Huhtamaki, a packaging solutions company, launched sustainable flexible packaging. The latest invention from Huhtamaki includes three substitute material options for mono-material flexible packaging: PAPER, PE (polyethylene), and PP (polypropylene) Retort.
  • In November 2022, ProMach, a provider of packaging solutions declared the acquisition with Ferlo, a manufacturer of retorts, pasteurizing tunnels, and associated product handling automation systems. ProMach’s acquisition of Ferlo strengthens its position in the processing equipment market, broadens its global reach in the retort industry, and fortifies its supply chain alliances and production capabilities.

    Competitive Landscape
    The major global players in the market include Amcor plc, Constantia Flexibles, Clifton Packaging Group Limited, Coveris, FLAIR Flexible Packaging Corporation, Mondi, Tetra Laval Group, ProAmpac, Sealed Air, and Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Why Purchase the Report?
  • To visualize the global retort packaging market segmentation based on product, form, material, 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 retort 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 retort packaging market report would provide approximately 78 tables, 83 figures and 186 Pages.
    Target Audience 2023
  • Manufacturers/ Buyers
  • Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
  • Research Professionals
  • Emerging Companies