Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A posted 21 transactions in May, which was an increase of two deals over April levels. With the exception of record-low volumes in March, Packaging M&A activity has been largely in line with 2022 levels. Financial buyers continued to contribute significantly to overall volume, accounting for over 50% of the deal volume for the fourth time this year due to increased add-on activity. Overall, Global Packaging M&A activity has been generally consistent over the last 17 months, reporting deal activity slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
- Financial buyers recorded 12 deals in May, up four transactions from April levels. A majority of private equity deal volume continues to be driven by add-on acquisitions, which have accounted for 79% of private equity deal volumes
- Strategic buyers accounted for nine deals in the month, which was above the average monthly deal volume through the year-to-date. Strategic buyers have been less active in 2023 when compared to 2022 likely due to macroeconomic challenges
- The Other Packaging subsector is up 7 deals year-over-year, driven by an increase in machinery / equipment transactions. May activity levels represented the subsector’s most active month from a deal volume standpoint since June 2021
- The Food & Beverage end market recorded seven deals in May, which was down two from April levels. May marked the second month in a row that the Food & Beverage end market led all end markets in deal activity
Global Packaging M&A levels in May were in line with volumes seen in April and Q4 2022. Private equity add-on buyers continued to drive volume in the space meanwhile strategic and private equity platform buyers have exhibited relative consistency. Packaging M&A activity has been consistent over the last 17 months, but remains below pre-pandemic levels. 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.
Sources: Capital IQ, PitchBook, Thomson Reuters, Company Reports, PMCF. Data as of May 31, 2023
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
- Ditching Plastic? Paper-Packaging Market Says ‘Welcome!’ (Packaging Digest)
https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/ditching-plastic-paper-packaging-market-says-welcome - Plastics Will Maintain Dominance as Protective Packaging Material of Choice, Study Says (Packaging Digest)
https://www.packagingdigest.com/ecommercesupply-chain/plastics-will-maintain-dominance-protective-packaging-material-choice-study - Global Plastics Recycling Market to Grow 50% by 2030, Report Says (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/global-plastics-recycling-grow-50-2030-report-says - Inflation Eased in April but Remains Stubbornly High (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-april-2023-consumer-price-index-48f0eac5?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1 - Robust Hiring in April Shows U.S. Job Market Remains Hot in Cooling Economy (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/april-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-economy-growth-2023-a500d302?mod=Searchresults_pos14&page=1
Download Packaging M&A Update – May 2023
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.