PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931558
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931558
Printed cartons are packaging containers made from paperboard or corrugated cardboard, featuring printed designs, branding, product details, or graphics. These cartons are widely utilized across industries to enhance product presentation, convey essential information, and strengthen brand recognition.
The primary types of printed cartons include folding cartons, rigid cartons, set-up boxes, display cartons, and gift boxes. Folding cartons are lightweight paperboard boxes designed for easy folding and assembly. They are manufactured from materials such as cardboard, corrugated paper, chipboard, paperboard, and specialty papers, using various printing technologies such as flexographic printing, offset printing, digital printing, inkjet printing, and gravure printing. These cartons are commonly used in industries such as food and beverages, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, personal care and cosmetics, electronics and appliances, as well as retail and e-commerce.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are influencing the printed carton market by increasing costs of imported paperboard, specialty papers, printing inks, and advanced printing machinery. Packaging producers in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces pricing pressure on carton exports. These tariffs are increasing packaging costs for brand owners. However, they are also encouraging domestic paper production, regional printing investments, and innovation in lightweight and recyclable carton solutions.
The printed carton market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides printed carton market statistics, including printed carton industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a printed carton market share, detailed printed carton market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the printed carton industry. This printed carton market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The printed carton market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $331.54 billion in 2025 to $353.11 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of retail and consumer goods packaging, growth in branded product marketing, increasing use of paper-based packaging, adoption of flexographic and offset printing, expansion of food and beverage packaging needs.
The printed carton market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $452.99 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing focus on recyclable packaging solutions, rising investments in smart printing technologies, expansion of e-commerce driven packaging demand, increasing customization requirements, adoption of premium packaging formats. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for sustainable printed packaging, rising adoption of digital printing technologies, growing use of high-quality brand graphics, expansion of custom and short-run cartons, enhanced focus on shelf-ready packaging.
The rising popularity of e-commerce is expected to propel the growth of the printed carton market going forward. E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services online through websites and digital platforms. The popularity of e-commerce is rising due to its ability to offer a seamless shopping experience that saves time, provides better deals, enhances convenience, and personalizes and simplifies purchasing decisions. Printed cartons enhance e-commerce by providing secure packaging, effective branding, and essential product information while ensuring a visually appealing unboxing experience that strengthens customer satisfaction and loyalty. For instance, in February 2025, according to the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, total e-commerce sales were estimated at $1,192.6 billion in 2024, marking an 8.1% (+-1.1) increase from the previous year. Therefore, the rising popularity of e-commerce is driving the growth of the printed carton market.
Key players in the printed carton market are focusing on adopting innovative printing technologies, such as digital printing for aseptic cartons, to enhance product differentiation, improve print quality, and offer greater customization for brands. Digital printing for aseptic cartons is an advanced printing technology that enables high-quality, full-color graphics to be directly printed onto packaging materials without the need for traditional printing plates. For instance, in April 2023, SIG Group AG, a Switzerland-based packaging company, introduced digital printing for its aseptic cartons, enhancing flexibility and speed in production. This technology allows for full-color digital printing without the need for cylinders, enabling quick design changes and small-scale production runs. This is ideal for products with lower order quantities, facilitating frequent design updates and promotional activities. This innovation aligns with SIG's commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that cater to the fast-paced and dynamic needs of the food and beverage sector.
In November 2023, Carton Group GmbH, a Germany-based manufacturer of creative and environmentally friendly packaging solutions, acquired British Duncan Print Group for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Carton Group aims to expand its UK presence, strengthen its premium packaging offerings, and accelerate its European growth strategy while ensuring operational continuity. British Duncan Print Group is a UK-based company specializing in luxury packaging solutions, including printed cartons.
Major companies operating in the printed carton market are WestRock, International Paper Company, Smurfit Kappa Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, DS Smith, Mondi Group, Mayr Melnhof Karton AG, Huhtamaki Group, TCPL Packaging Limited, Parksons Packaging Limited, Uflex Limited, ITC Limited, Stora Enso Oyj, Oji Holdings Corporation, Nippon Paper Industries Company Limited, Sonoco Products Company, Saica Group, Rengo Company Limited, Pratt Industries, Packaging Corporation of America.
North America was the largest region in the printed carton market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the printed carton market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the printed carton market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The printed carton market consists of sales of printing plates, dyes & pigments, finishing materials, coatings & laminates, and corrugated cardboard. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Printed Carton Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses printed carton market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for printed carton ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The printed carton market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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