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Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing Industry Data and Analysis
Surging demand from e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods and food and beverage manufacturers has underpinned expansion in the industry’s revenue base. Major end users increasingly prioritize packaging reliability, lightweight structures and recyclability, driving shifts in product mix toward double-wall corrugated containers and high-strength, custom-printed packaging. Industrial automation across distribution centers and manufacturing lines has spurred the uptake of standardized pallet-ready solutions that reduce supply chain complexity. Growth in emerging manufacturing markets and periodic changes in trade flows present both opportunities and risks to multinational producers, while heightened consumer scrutiny around packaging sustainability remains a key force impacting product development and retooling investment.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry operates under the industry code C1512-GL. 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. 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.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include Corrugated and solid fiber boxes, Folding paperboard boxes and Other.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry include Smurfit Westrock PLC.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry in 2026?
The market size of the Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing industry is $526.0bn in 2026.
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.
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