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
Packaging M&A Update – August 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity softened in August, totaling 16 transactions, down 11 deals compared to July, and the lowest monthly volume recorded since March 2023.
Plastics M&A Update – August 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 29 transactions in August, down from 37 in July but in line with the 28 deals announced in August 2025.
Packaging M&A Update – July 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity was unchanged in July with 27 transactions, matching June volume but 10 fewer than in July 2025.
Plastics M&A Update – July 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 37 transactions in July, down from 46 in June and 43 in July 2025.
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.