Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A had a slow month in May, recording 17 deals compared to 27 transactions in May 2021. For the year, Packaging M&A has been lower than the 2021 elevated levels and has dipped slightly below pre-pandemic volumes. Despite potential macroeconomic headwinds on the horizon, PMCF has not seen any pullback from packaging buyers in terms of interest level or valuations. Despite lower M&A activity, packaging company fundamentals appear to remain strong.
- Private equity buyers accounted for 47% of the deal volume in the month; through the first five months of the year financial buyers have accounted for 51% of the deal volume
- For the first month of the year, platform and add-on transactions had an equal share of the total transaction activity; platform activity had not exceeded 20% of deal volume in the first four months of the year
- Paper packaging only posted 6 transactions in the month down from the YTD monthly average of 11 deals
- The Rigid Plastic packaging subsector increased month-over-month, posting 8 transactions in May 2022; this was the largest total of the year for the subsector and the first time Rigid Plastic transactions led all subsectors
- The Industrial end-market led all end-markets with 6 transactions in the month; the Industrial end-market and Other end-market have both increased year-over-year
Global Packaging M&A activity levels through the year-to-date have dipped below pre-pandemic levels experienced in 2019 and 2018. The lower deal volumes experienced for the first 5 months of 2022 could be the result of fewer sellers or the activity levels experienced in 2021. With that being said, there has not been any conclusive evidence of a slowdown in the sector and there continues to be marquee transaction closings. As the year continues, we will be monitoring macroeconomic factors and the effects, if any, these may have on H2 2022 Packaging M&A volume.
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
- Colorado Legislature Passes EPR Bill (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/colorado-legislature-passes-epr-responsibility-bill-measure-sent-governor - How Will Inflation Affect Packaging Material Costs in 2022?
https://www.packworld.com/issues/business-intelligence/article/22171833/rabobanks-packaging-material-inflation-outlook - Global Supply Chain Pressure Index: May 2022 Update (Liberty Street Economics)
https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/05/global-supply-chain-pressure-index-may-2022-update - Folding Carton Demand Set to Outstrip Supply in 2022
https://www.thepackagingportal.com/industry-news/folding-carton-demand-set-to-outstrip-supply-in-2022 - Rapid Pace of U.S. Job Growth Stretched Into April (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/april-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-2022-11651789328
Download Packaging M&A Update – May 2022
Packaging M&A Update – February 2026
Global Packaging M&A tapered in February as 20 deals were announced in the sector, down more than 30% from prior month and prior year levels.
Plastics M&A Update – February 2026
Global Plastics M&A cooled off in February following a record-setting January with 31 transactions – down 21 from the prior month and seven from last February.
Packaging M&A Update – January 2026
Global packaging M&A maintained steady volume to open 2026 with 30 deals in January, which was in-line with historical levels for January but below the record 45 transactions announced in January 2025.
Plastics M&A Update – January 2026
52 global plastics M&A transactions were recorded in January 2026, which represented one of the most active months for plastics M&A since PMCF began tracking the sector.
Plastics M&A Update – December 2025
Global Plastics M&A posted 34 transactions in December, one deal fewer than both November and the 2025 monthly average.