Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A posted 24 deals in June, rebounding from just 17 in May but still trailing June 2024’s total by five transactions. Strategic buyers drove the majority of deal activity, accounting for well over 60% of transactions in the month. Transactions involving parties outside of the United States continued to contribute meaningfully to overall deal volume, remaining consistent with year-to-date trends and highlighting the sustained global nature of packaging M&A activity. In total, Global Packaging M&A recorded 173 deals in H1 2025, 22 more than the same period in 2024, and is well positioned for a strong second half of the year if current momentum persists.
- Rigid Packaging posted the strongest year-to-date growth among all subsectors, rising from 23 deals in H1 2024 to 33 in H1 2025, despite recording one fewer deal in June compared to the prior year
- Paper Packaging recorded just four deals in June, down from 11 in the same month last year. However, despite the slowdown, the subsector remains ahead of 2024’s pace by two deals year-to-date
- Strategic buyers were the primary driver of June deal activity, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all transactions. Financial buyer activity fell below historical norms, with only one platform acquisition announced during the month
- Cross-border transactions involving both a foreign buyer and seller accounted for 50% of June’s total activity, consistent with year-to-date 2025 levels. Meanwhile, deals involving both a buyer and seller in the United States accounted for only 33% of volume in June, down from year-to-date trends
- Year-to-date packaging activity has been evenly distributed between the Food & Beverage, Industrial, and Consumer end markets, each representing 31% of activity, while the Medical end market was responsible for the remaining 8%
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- New Packaging Laws Take Effect, Including EPR (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/july-2025-packaging-laws-single-use-styrofoam-takeout-hotels-epr/751421/ - Beverage Packaging Industry Responds to Rapid Transformation (PMMI)
https://www.pmmi.org/news/beverage-packaging-industry-responds-to-rapid-transformation - EU Seeks to Unify its Packaging Rules (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/eu-unify-supd-and-ppwr-broader-definition-recycling - How Much Do Consumers Really Care About Sustainable Packaging? (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/consumer-sentiment-survey-packaging-sustainability-mckinsey/750301/ - Powell Reaffirms Wait-and-See Posture on Rate Cuts (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/fed-chair-jerome-powell-congress-08eab6cd?mod=central-banking_more_article_pos21 - Sweeping Tariffs Remain in Effect Pending Court Review (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-cpi-inflation-tariffs-06-11-2025/card/appeals-court-lets-sweeping-tariffs-stand-for-now-ckchrVn8MFV7uWPscgsn
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.