Milk Packaging Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Packaging Type (Cans, Bottles/ Containers, Cartons, Pouches/Bags, Others), By Material (Plastic, Paperboard, Glass, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The milk packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.56% from US$25.243 billion in 2021 to US$28.123 billion by 2028.

The market for milk packaging is driven by the rising demand for dairy products worldwide, which is a result of changing lifestyles and population expansion. Sustainable packaging designs and materials are evolving in response to customer demands for environmentally friendly products. Packaging methods are always evolving due to the need for longer shelf lives, the impact of e-commerce, and the requirement to comply with strict food safety regulations. The market is further driven by consumer convenience and health-conscious trends, which highlight the value of innovation, dependability, and environmental responsibility in milk packaging solutions. Companies use eye-catching and useful packaging to set their brands apart in this ever-changing market.

The market for milk packaging is radically altered by the growing amount of milk produced; this results in adjustments to supply chain dynamics, scalability, efficiency, variety of packaging alternatives, material innovation, and regulatory compliance, among other things. In addition, according to APEDA, India currently boasts the largest dairy industry in the world when it comes to milk production; in 2021–2022, the country produced almost 221.1 million tonnes of milk, which is nearly 50% more than the US and more than three times than China, the much-heralded new growth champion.

Increasing demand for dairy products

The market for milk packaging is expanding its formats and emphasizing sustainability by using eco-friendly materials in response to the growing demand for dairy products. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies for supply chain optimization and quality control is fueled by rising production requirements. As the importance of regulatory compliance increases, the packaging sector's contribution to maintaining food safety is highlighted. Innovative packaging designs, which consider the changing dynamics of the milk packaging market, are essential for brand distinction and consumer engagement in this competitive marketplace. The way the sector has responded to increased demand demonstrates its dedication to creativity, sustainability, and flexibility.

Furthermore, as per the Central Statistics Office Ireland, in the year 2022, dairy products like cheese, butter, and skimmed milk powder were produced significantly. 282.48 thousand tonnes of cheese were produced in the country. Whereas 269.20 thousand tonnes and 173.69 thousand tonnes of butter and skimmed milk powder were produced respectively.

In addition, India’s main dairy product imports include milk albumin lactose and lactose syrup, infant food preparation, casein, ice cream, edible ice (e.g., additives), and cheese. The United States, France, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Netherlands are India’s main suppliers.

January-August 2022 trade data indicates that SMP and butter imports were just 238 MT, with 162 MT of SMP and some 76 MT of butter (with a combined value of $1.4 million). Post foresees SMP imports reached 350 MT by December 2022. The United States is India’s largest supplier of milk albumin, while both the United States and the Netherlands are the largest suppliers of lactose. Thailand leads in the provision of infant food preparations, while France ships whey. The United States and the Netherlands are the key providers of casein and its derivatives and Italy exports cheeses .

Moreover, a significant producer of milk and milk products, that are included in the common market organization (CMO), is the European Union. All EU member states produce milk, which accounts for a sizeable amount of the EU's total agricultural output value. An estimated 155 million tons of milk are produced annually in the EU. Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, and Ireland are the top producers. When combined, they supply about 70% of the milk produced in the EU. While the milk yield per cow has increased recently, the EU dairy herd has been shrinking. The EU had about 20 million cows in 2020, and each cow generated 7300 kg of milk on average.

The USA milk packaging market is projected to grow steadily. 

The rising consumption of milk-based products in the country coupled with increasing consumer preference is expected to drive the market. Moreover, a well-established dairy industry and a high presence of manufacturers and suppliers are anticipated to boost the market share in the projected period. Additionally, the increasing awareness about eco-friendly packaging such as paperboard packaging is also expected to dominate the market of milk packaging in the United States.

More young people are choosing to buy packaged milk products, and there's a growing need for packaging materials for dairy items because of health issues related to not getting enough nutrients. In 2021, about 13.5 million U.S. households, or 10.2%,  faced food insecurity, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Also, the increasing importance of packaging materials in keeping food safe from contamination and being tampered with is expected to make more people want these products in the U.S.

New product launches are happening in the market, which are further expected to facilitate the market in the projected period. For instance, in May 2022, Elopak announced the launch of Pure-Pak eSense cartons which are more environmentally friendly aseptic cartons made without an aluminium layer. This innovative packaging will allow up to 50% lower carbon footprint than a standard Pure-Pak aseptic carton and full recyclability. 

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, dairy contributes majorly to the United States economy. Cheese is one of the most consumed items in the dairy products category, which contributed US$ 64.5 billion, followed by milk contributed US$5.09 billion. Diary ingredients, ice cream, and yoghurt and culture products contributed US$20.4 billion, US$11.4 billion, and US$8.3 billion respectively in 2021.

Market Key Developments

• In September 2021, the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) unveiled a new line of products dubbed "National Milk" in SIG's on-the-go combiblocXSlim carton packs with SIGNATURE Full Barrier packaging material. This is an innovation in Asia since the small number of polymers used is linked to certified forest-based renewable materials.
• In November 2023, Tetra Pak and Lactogal introduced an aseptic beverage carton with a paper-based barrier, following successful commercial consumer testing in 2022. This is a small portion of a larger technology validation project that is presently being carried out in Portugal and involves over 25 million packages. Comprising roughly 80% paperboard, the package boosts its renewable content to 90%, lowers its carbon impact by 33%, and has earned the Carbon TrustTM's Carbon Neutral certification.  Furthermore, Tetra Pak has made significant strides in the field of recycled content, broadening the scope of its packaging solutions portfolio to include certified recycled polymers in new product categories, forms, and geographic areas in April 2023.
• In October 2020, PackGroup built its new bottle with HDPE, a naturally occurring and reusable material that grows sugarcane and absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2). At the end of its life, the bottle can be recycled 100% at the curb. The plant-based resin used to make the Anchor Blue 2L Milk bottle packaging was introduced to the North Island as a new product to complement the current Anchor line. It represents the development of a long-standing collaboration between Pact Group and Fonterra, which spans several product categories.

Segmentation:

• By Packaging Type
  • Cans
  • Bottles/Containers
  • Cartons
  • Pouches/Bags
  • Others
• By Material
  • Plastic
  • Paperboard
  • Glass
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Indonesia
    • Others