Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $526.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Sustained e-commerce expansion boosts corrugated box demand across multiple regions
- According to UNCTAD, global e-commerce sales surged during COVID-19, with online retail’s share of total sales peaking in 2021 and remaining elevated through 2024. This permanently expanded the base demand for corrugated shipping boxes, forcing manufacturers to adapt capacity planning and production scheduling to serve high-frequency, small-batch orders instead of traditional bulk shipments.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Mandatory recycled-content targets drive fiber supply competition
- According to the PPWR implementation schedule, mandatory recycled-content requirements will begin to apply in the EU from August 2026. This will significantly increase competition for high-quality recycled fiber, especially white-top grades, driving investment in local OCC and de-inking facilities to secure supply.
Biggest companies in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Smurfit Westrock PLC | 18,085.0 | 904.3 | 5.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Corrugated and solid fiber boxes, Folding paperboard boxes and Other. Corrugated and solid fiber boxes is the largest segment of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing.
Trends and Insights
Corrugated and solid fiber boxes maintain volume leadership through integration and supply chain efficiency
- Corrugated and solid fiber boxes remain core to the industry, supplying logistics, e-commerce, food and beverage and consumer goods packaging. These boxes are defined by their multi-layer structure that offers superior stacking strength, protective performance and customization options for branding or product security. They account for the largest share of industry revenue, with this proportion remaining broadly stable over the past five years because of consistent demand from global distribution networks and continued uptake in online retail packaging.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in this industry convert paper, paperboard and old corrugated containers into cardboard boxes, containers and similar packaging solutions. The industry produces corrugated and solid cardboard packaging for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, wholesale, shipping, retail and others. Flexible packaging such as paper bags and plastic sacks are excluded.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include Corrugated and solid fiber boxes, Folding paperboard boxes and Other.Companies
Companies covered in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include Smurfit Westrock PLC.Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include corrugated packaging, rigid-sided boxes, solid cardboard, aseptic packaging and gable-top packaging.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
Industry revenue has surged, underpinned by strong demand from global e-commerce, logistics and food packaging markets. Expansion stems chiefly from increased shipping box vo...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Corrugated and solid fiber boxes overwhelmingly dominate the industry’s product portfolio, cementing their status as the de facto standard for bulk transport and protective sh...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- 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
North Asia accounts for the largest production share due to established supply infrastructure and proximity to major consumer goods exporters. Locating production here enable...
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Business Locations Charts
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- Share of population compared to output in each region in 2025
- Data tables
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Global, 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
Significant capital investment in automation, along with established long-term supply contracts in key markets, suppresses new entry. Entrants face high asset requirements an...
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 2020-2025
- 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
Widespread market fragmentation prevails, with limited concentration and many regional-scale producers operating alongside diversified global packaging corporations. This str...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Smurfit Westrock PLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Smurfit Westrock PLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Heightened regulatory focus on recyclability and sustainable sourcing, particularly in European and North American markets, is rapidly standardizing product specifications. C...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
Purchases dominate cost structures industry-wide, exposing manufacturers to severe earnings volatility when fiber and energy prices shift. Hedging strategies and negotiating ...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry in 2025?
The market size of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is $526.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry in 2025?
There are 9,492 businesses in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry?
The Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry?
The Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry has been growing at a CAGR of 6.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry?
The biggest company operating in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is Smurfit Westrock PLC
What does the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include?
Corrugated and solid fiber boxes and Folding paperboard boxes are part of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry?
The company holding the most market share in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is Smurfit Westrock PLC.
How competitive is the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
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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 globally include:
- United Nations Comtrade
- Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
- World Bank
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.
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