F&B, e-commerce Spurs Middle East Packaging Sector Growth
Propaper Dubai 2024 Expo Forum to endorse sustainable packaging solutions
The food packaging market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been on an exponential post-pandemic growth trajectory, with the primary drivers of this demand surge being e-commerce and consumer preference to opt for sustainable, environment-friendly, and hygienic packaging.
“Paper packaging is now claiming a larger share in the overall $74 billion packaging market, and food products verticals have become a major stakeholder in this growth,” says Atul Kaul, Chair of Propaper Dubai 2024 Expo Forum, and Chief Commercial Officer, Arab Paper Manufacturing Co (WARAQ), Saudi Arabia.
Kaul says that this alternative packaging to plastic is now also being preferred by pharma, personal care, and cosmetics in a big way, adding to the growth prospects of the paper packaging industry in the region.
Against this backdrop, the third edition of Propaper Dubai is being hosted from 17-19 September, 2024, offering a vantage point for entry and growth for paper industry players in the MEA market. The Expo Forum, an integral component of the leading paper industry expo, will bring together domain experts from across the world for deeper insights into the regional market dynamics of the paper industry and the opportunities.
Globally, the food packaging market size is expected to grow from $353.7 billion to $592.8 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 5.3%, according to a report by Future Market Insights (FMI).
Comparative market studies for the MEA markets by research entity, Global Data, estimate that the food market currently valued at $383.2 billion will grow at a CAGR of 33% in the next five years, concomitantly increasing the prospects for paper food packaging as well.
“COVID-19 was an inflection point for the paper packaging industry, with the market for corrugated packaging products surging in the regional market. Apart from awareness on the carbon burden from traditional packaging, the successive ban on single-use plastics across countries also contributed to the growth of paper packaging products,” adds Kaul.
