Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A activity fell in February, recording 27 deals, or 15 fewer than in January but still managed to show an increase over last year. February represented the lowest monthly plastics M&A activity since July 2023. The lower monthly activity resulted from both financial and strategic buyers producing below-average monthly deal volumes relative to the trailing 12 months. Overall, February was a lackluster month for Global Plastics M&A, but elevated monthly deal volumes experienced in January and the second half of 2023 still provide a reason for optimism for Plastics M&A in 2024.
- Strategic buyers were responsible for 16 deals, or 59% of the monthly deal volume. The 16 deals recorded in February represented the lowest monthly deal volume since September 2023 for this buyer type. The pullback in the month is attributable to private strategic buyers, which recorded nine fewer deals month-over-month
- Financial buyers recorded 11 deals in February, seven fewer than in January. Both platform and add-on buyers pulled back in the month, with each buyer type falling by three or more deals month-over-month. Notably, platform activity posted its lowest monthly volume since June 2023
- After a solid start to the year in January, deals involving two domestic parties were down in February. Seven domestic transactions were recorded in February, which was eight fewer than January levels. Furthermore, the seven deals recorded in February are four fewer than the average monthly domestic deal volume in 2023
- The Injection Molding subsector has been highly active from an M&A standpoint over the last twelve months, averaging 11 transactions per month, but the subsector cooled off in February, recording only five deals
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Report Says Plastics Treaty Should Ban ‘Problematic’ Products (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/report-says-plastics-treaty-should-ban-problematic-products-industry-others-urge-care - EPA Sets PFAS Test for HDPE Containers, Faces New Suit in Inhance Case (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/epa-sets-pfas-test-hdpe-containers-faces-new-suit-inhance-case - Interest, But No Consensus, on Microplastics at Senate Hearing (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/microplastics-hearing-senate-draws-interest-no-consensus - Jobs Growth of 353,000 Blasts Past Expectations as Labor Market Stays Hot (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-january-today-unemployment-economy-4f3a772e?mod=jobs_more_article_pos6 - Fed Minutes Show Unease Over Premature Cuts (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/federal-reserve-minutes-jan-2024-rate-cuts-25f72187
Download Plastics M&A Update – February 2024
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.