Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A activity increased in April with 29 deals announced, representing a three-deal rise over March 2025 and a six-deal increase compared to April 2024. Financial buyer interest remained strong, while deals involving a strategic buyer declined for the fourth consecutive month. Overall, Global Packaging M&A activity has exceeded prior-year levels in each of the first four months of 2025; however, this growth has been driven primarily by smaller transactions, as larger deals have been subdued. While macroeconomic uncertainty has impacted the M&A appetite of some buyers and sellers, deal volumes remain strong, and transactions continue to close.
- The Paper packaging subsector announced 11 deals in April, more than doubling April 2024 volume and posting its most active month of 2025
- Financial buyers accounted for 17 transactions, with add-on activity rebounding from subdued levels in March and platform deal flow remaining consistent with year-to-date trends
- Strategic buyer activity declined by three deals month-over-month, totaling 12 transactions in April. This group represented just 41% of overall deal volume—the lowest monthly share recorded this year
- 18 deals involving a foreign buyer and seller were announced in April, representing 62% of all volume in the month. In contrast, domestic activity witnessed its weakest month of the year, recording only eight transactions
- The Food & Beverage end market led all others with 13 announced transactions, its highest monthly total since late 2021. Meanwhile, the Consumer end market saw a meaningful slowdown in April, falling below its year-to-date average of 12 transactions following a strong first quarter
Major News
- Packaging Manufacturers Post Q1 Results (Packaging Dive) https://www.packagingdive.com/news/packaging-q1-2025-earnings-results/746624/
- Novolex Completes $6.7B Acquisition of Pactiv Evergreen (Packaging Dive) https://www.packagingdive.com/news/novolex-closes-acquisition-pactiv-evergreen/744049/
- U.S. Economy Shrank in First Quarter as Imports Surged Ahead of Tariffs (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/economy/us-gdp-q1-2025-1f82f689
- IPL, Schoeller Allibert Merge to Create $1.4B Packaging Business (Plastics News) https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/ipl-schoeller-allibert-merge-create-14b-packaging-business
- Maryland, Washington Pass Packaging EPR Laws (Plastics News) https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/maryland-washington-join-states-passing-packaging-epr
- U.S. Jobless Claims Rise Slightly (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/u-s-jobless-claims-rise-slightly-a8f73cad
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.
Packaging M&A Update – December 2025
Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking Global Packaging M&A activity remained strong in December with 29 deals announced, representing an increase of two transactions month-over-month and four transactions compared to December 2024. Strategic buyers led the market with 19 deals, exceeding 2025 monthly averages and offsetting softer activity from financial buyers. Strategic buyers remain a significant…
Plastics M&A Update – November 2025
Global Plastics M&A softened in November following an October that saw strong activity.