Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A in March continued a downward trend, finishing the first quarter with 91 deals, which was down from the 115 transactions recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023. 22 deals were announced in March, which represented the slowest month of 2024 and a below-average month for 2023. The lower levels of activity in March were the result of weak strategic buyer activity, which has trended downward throughout the first quarter of the year. Despite the pullback in Q1 2024 when compared to Q4 2023, the first quarter was slightly more active than Q1 2023, surpassing its transaction total by five deals.
- Strategic buyers were responsible for 50 deals, or 55% of the quarterly deal volume. Although the 50 deals recorded in Q1 was down 17 from the prior quarter, it is in line with historical Q1 deal volumes recorded by strategic buyers
- Financial buyers recorded 41 deals in the first quarter, which was seven fewer than in Q4 2023. The pullback in financial buyer activity was driven by add-on acquisitions declining by seven deals quarter-over-quarter. Despite the decline, both platform and add-on acquisitions remained active in the quarter recording 14 and 27 deals, respectively
- The Industrial end market recorded 19 transactions, or 86% of March’s deal volume. This marks the highest percentage of monthly deal volume since August 2023. for this end market
- The Specialty subsector, which includes extrusion, machinery, distribution, rotomolding, and more, recorded 34 deals in the quarter, leading all other subsectors from a deal volume standpoint. Notably, the subsector was driven by extrusion deals, which recorded seven transactions in the quarter, after not accounting for more than 25 deals in either of the last two years
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- ‘Problematic’ Plastics, EPR Part of Push from Business, Finance Leaders for Treaty Priorities (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/problematic-plastics-epr-part-push-business-finance-leaders-plastics-treaty-priorities - EU Committee Votes to Expand Definition of Plastic Pellet (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/eu-committee-adopts-stricter-plastic-pellet-definition - Europe’s Recycled-Content Rate for PET Bottles Hits 24% (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/europes-recycled-content-rate-pet-bottles-hits-24 - Powell: Fed Is ‘Not Far’ From Gaining Confidence Needed to Cut Rates (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/powell-fed-is-not-far-from-gaining-confidence-needed-to-cut-rates-75c9b061?mod=central-banking_more_article_pos62 - U.S. Consumers Still Aren’t Feeling Sunnier (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/u-s-consumers-still-arent-feeling-sunnier-d1dda3af?mod=consumers_more_article_pos3
Download Plastics M&A Update – March 2024
Plastics M&A Update – March 2026
Global Plastics M&A experienced recorded 38 transactions in March, representing an uptick of seven deals from the prior month and five deals from last March.
Packaging M&A Update – March 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity improved in March, with 27 deals announced.
Plastics M&A Pulse – 2025 Year In Review
Global Plastics M&A recorded its fourth consecutive year of deal volume growth with 420 transactions, highlighting a steady rebound following the record-setting activity of 2021.
Packaging M&A Pulse – 2025 Year In Review
The Global Packaging M&A market achieved its third consecutive year of growth in 2025 with 344 transactions, up 22 deals from 2024.
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.