Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A rebounded after a slow month in February, posting 29 transactions in the month of March which was an increase of 11 transactions month-over-month. The increase in transaction activity could be attributed primarily to financial buyers, which accounted for 17 deals in March, after only accounting for 6 deals in February. 2022 packaging M&A activity has not met the levels seen through the first quarter of 2021, however, transaction activity remains strong and March closings validated this viewpoint.
- Private equity add-on transactions contributed to high levels of deal volumes in March, accounting for 14 deals or 48% of the transaction volume
- Strategic buyer activity has remained constant through the first quarter of 2022, posting 12 deals in both February and March and 11 deals in January
- Paper packaging, which typically leads all packaging subsectors, accounted for 11 deals in the month which represented a 6 deal increase month-over-month
- Other packaging transactions which include specialty packaging, machinery, and distribution deals, accounted for 21% of the transaction volume in the month and increased by 5 transactions over February levels
- Consumer and Medical end-markets contributed 11 deals on the month, which was an increase of 7 deals month-over-month, and have posted 23 deals through the year-to-date
The Global Packaging M&A market experienced high levels of transactions through the first quarter of 2022 and looks poised to build on a strong March. Favorable market conditions that led to a record year in M&A in 2021 have continued with packaging buyers and sellers remaining highly active in 2022. If you are a packaging company considering a merger, acquisition, sale or recapitalization in the short or longer term, please consider leveraging PMCF’s transaction planning and execution expertise to best position your company in a transaction.
Packaging M&A By Subsector
Total Packaging M&A By End Market
Packaging Transactions By Buyer Type
Notable M&A Activity
Public Entity Performance
Major News
- Resin Prices on the Rise (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/resin-prices-rise-supply-chain-ukraine-and-production-all-blame - Numbers That Matter: Interest Rates, Energy Costs, Uncertainty All on the Rise (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/interest-rates-energy-costs-uncertainty-all-rise - U.S. March Jobs Report Shows Strong Hiring Momentum (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/march-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-2022-11648766857 - ‘Test and Learn’ will Improve Packaging Sustainability (Packaging Digest)
https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/test-and-learn-will-improve-packaging-sustainability - SEC Floats Mandatory Disclosure of Climate-Change Risks, Emissions (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-to-float-mandatory-disclosure-of-climate-change-risks-emissions-11647874814
Download Packaging M&A Update – March 2022
2021 Year in Review Plastics & Packaging Industry Reports
Packaging M&A Update – June 2026
Global Packaging M&A held steady in June with 27 transactions, in line with May and three deals above June 2025.
Plastics M&A Update – June 2026
Global Plastics M&A accelerated in June, with 46 transactions announced, an increase of 10 from May and eight from June 2025.
Packaging M&A Update – May 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity slowed slightly in May, with 27 deals announced. While this reflected only a one-deal decrease compared to April, activity rebounded meaningfully from May 2025, with ten more transactions announced.
Plastics M&A Update – May 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 36 transactions in May, increasing by five deals from April and seven from May 2025, bringing year-to-date volume to 188 transactions.
Packaging M&A Update – April 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity remained stable in April, with 28 deals announced, one fewer than April 2025 and slightly above March levels. Through the first four months of 2026, 105 deals have been announced, a 27-deal decrease from the prior-year period.