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Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kathrina Gonzales Kathrina Gonzales Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: February 2024 ANZSIC C1911

Revenue

$2.1bn

2024-25

$2.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

3,764

Businesses

247

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia industry analysis

The Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry has endured challenging operating conditions in recent years. Climbing import competition has put substantial pressure on local manufacturers. Countries like China and Malaysia have a competitive advantage over local manufacturers because of lower labour costs and economies of scale. The industry mainly serves agriculture, food manufacturing, construction and retail firms. Industry-wide revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 3.7% over the past five years, to total $2.1 billion in 2023-24, when revenue is anticipated to drop by 3.2%. Weak downstream demand coupled with intense price competition has squeezed profit margins.

Trends and Insights

  • Imports are increasingly satisfying the domestic demand for plastic bag and film products. Domestic manufacturers have struggled to compete with the lower costs international manufacturers offer.
  • Manufacturers produce various plastics that can be segmented into bags and films. To prevent the chance of contamination and to minimise damage, downstream manufacturers often use plastic films and protective plastic sheets during transportation.
  • The geographical distribution of enterprises is broadly correlated with the country's population and national economic activities. Most manufacturers are located in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
  • Products from alternative materials are a source of external competition for manufacturers. Downstream businesses may opt for bags made from paper or fabric to appeal to rising environmental concerns among consumers.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Uncertain conditions in construction have dulled the performance of plastic bag and film manufacturers

  • The operating conditions in key downstream industries, including construction, manufacturing and agriculture, affect plastic bag and film manufacturers. The pandemic has contributed to fluctuations in downstream demand, particularly in construction.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Plastic bag and film manufacturers will face mixed downstream demand moving forward

  • Demand from food product manufacturers will strengthen over the coming years, lifting demand for a range of plastic films, including polyvinyl chloride food films, stretch films and other protective packaging materials.

Biggest companies in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Amcor
821.8
Sealed Air Australia
314.3
Pro-Pac Group
271.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Plastic films, Plastic bags and Other. Plastic films is the largest segment of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Mounting import competition has been dulling the need for plastic films

  • The plastic film segment includes plastic wrap used to preserve food and plastic stretch wrap used to package cans, plastic bottles and other goods.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Manufacturers produce unsupported polymer films and sheets into packaging materials like plastic bags, thin plastic films, garbage bags, food wrapping and bubble wrap packaging.

What's included in this industry?

Plastic filmPlastic bagsBubble wrapPaper lamination

Companies

AmcorSealed Air AustraliaPro-Pac Group

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FLEXIBLESEXTRUSIONPOLYMERRESINHIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1911 - Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Imports are increasingly satisfying the domestic demand for plastic bag and film products. Domestic manufacturers have struggled to compete with the lower costs international...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Manufacturers produce various plastics that can be segmented into bags and films. To prevent the chance of contamination and to minimise damage, downstream manufacturers ofte...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The geographical distribution of enterprises is broadly correlated with the country's population and national economic activities. Most manufacturers are located in Victoria,...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Products from alternative materials are a source of external competition for manufacturers. Downstream businesses may opt for bags made from paper or fabric to appeal to risi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry's largest manufacturers wield significant economies of scale. They benefit from large-scale operations, which allows them to reduce the cost per unit of their pr...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Amcor's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Sealed Air Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Pro-Pac Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Amcor, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sealed Air Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Pro-Pac Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Australia has free trade agreements with some countries that exempt it from tax penalties on imported plastic products. Even so, most products are subject to a 5.0% tariff.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Manufacturers cost structures fluctuate depending on their size and type of products. The industry includes several high-volume, multi-product manufacturers that rely on auto...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia is $2.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 247 businesses in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 3.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing market in Australia are Amcor, Sealed Air Australia and Pro-Pac Group

What does the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia include?

Plastic film and Plastic bags are part of the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Amcor.

How competitive is the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing in Australia
  • Plastic Foam Product Manufacturing in Australia
  • Plastic Pipe and Plastic Packaging Material Manufacturing in Australia

Complementors

  • Plastic Bottle Manufacturing in Australia
  • Plastic Flooring and Other Polymer Product Manufacturing in Australia

International industries

  • Global Plastic Product & Packaging Manufacturing
  • Plastic Film, Sheet & Bag Manufacturing in the US
  • Laminated Plastics Manufacturing in the US
  • Plastic Film, Sheet & Bag Manufacturing in Canada
  • Polymer Film and Sheet Packaging Material Manufacturing in New Zealand

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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