Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A dipped slightly from a transaction volume standpoint in January 2022 relative to months in 2021. Total deals in the month amounted to 25 transactions while average monthly deal volume in 2021 was 30 transactions. Of the 25 transactions, 14 were attributed to private equity firms which is unique as historically strategic buyers have been more active in the space. Overall, Global Packaging M&A activity remains strong after a record year in 2021.
- Private equity add-on transactions accounted for 13 deals, or 52% of deal volume, the highest monthly mark for add-on transactions from a volume mix standpoint in the last 3 years
- Strategic volume was down 1 transaction in the month relative to January 2021; it is typical for strategics to be relatively passive to start the year. January 2021 was the second lowest mark for strategics in 2021
- Paper Packaging transactions led all Packaging subsectors, accounting for 13 deals in the month which was up from 8 in January 2021
- Rigid Plastic transactions accounted for 7 deals in the month which was an activity level in line with the subsector’s monthly average of 6 in 2021
- Food & Beverage and Consumer end markets accounted for 14 deals in the month and together led all subsectors, however, this is a decrease from the 24 combined deals totaled from the two subsectors in January 2021
Overall, Global Packaging M&A transaction activity has been a little slower out of the gate when compared to last year’s M&A levels. Importantly, the current level of deal volumes is in line with historic levels excluding 2021 and could grow in future months if strategic buyers become more active as the year progresses. 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
- Big Deals, Big Money in 2021 M&A Final Numbers (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/big-deals-big-money-2021-ma-final-numbers - Inflation, Supply Chain, Omicron Expected to Take a Bigger Toll on Global Growth (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-supply-chain-omicron-expected-to-take-a-bigger-toll-on-global-growth-11643119381 - US Plastics Pact, Backed By Big Firms, Pushes Cuts in ‘Problematic’ Packaging (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/us-plastics-pact-lists-11-plastics-materials-products-phase-out-packaging - 6 Sustainability Principles Help Inform Decisions (Packaging Digest)
https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/6-sustainability-principles-help-inform-decisions
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.