Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A rebounded after a slow month in February, posting 29 transactions in the month of March which was an increase of 11 transactions month-over-month. The increase in transaction activity could be attributed primarily to financial buyers, which accounted for 17 deals in March, after only accounting for 6 deals in February. 2022 packaging M&A activity has not met the levels seen through the first quarter of 2021, however, transaction activity remains strong and March closings validated this viewpoint.
- Private equity add-on transactions contributed to high levels of deal volumes in March, accounting for 14 deals or 48% of the transaction volume
- Strategic buyer activity has remained constant through the first quarter of 2022, posting 12 deals in both February and March and 11 deals in January
- Paper packaging, which typically leads all packaging subsectors, accounted for 11 deals in the month which represented a 6 deal increase month-over-month
- Other packaging transactions which include specialty packaging, machinery, and distribution deals, accounted for 21% of the transaction volume in the month and increased by 5 transactions over February levels
- Consumer and Medical end-markets contributed 11 deals on the month, which was an increase of 7 deals month-over-month, and have posted 23 deals through the year-to-date
The Global Packaging M&A market experienced high levels of transactions through the first quarter of 2022 and looks poised to build on a strong March. Favorable market conditions that led to a record year in M&A in 2021 have continued with packaging buyers and sellers remaining highly active in 2022. 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
- Resin Prices on the Rise (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/resin-prices-rise-supply-chain-ukraine-and-production-all-blame - Numbers That Matter: Interest Rates, Energy Costs, Uncertainty All on the Rise (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/interest-rates-energy-costs-uncertainty-all-rise - U.S. March Jobs Report Shows Strong Hiring Momentum (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/march-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-2022-11648766857 - ‘Test and Learn’ will Improve Packaging Sustainability (Packaging Digest)
https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/test-and-learn-will-improve-packaging-sustainability - SEC Floats Mandatory Disclosure of Climate-Change Risks, Emissions (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-to-float-mandatory-disclosure-of-climate-change-risks-emissions-11647874814
Download Packaging M&A Update – March 2022
2021 Year in Review Plastics & Packaging Industry Reports
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.