Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A was strong in January as momentum from the second half of 2023 continued. January is typically a more active month from a transaction volume perspective as deals slated to close at the end of 2023 are carried over to the start of the new year. 42 transactions were recorded in January, which marks the second time in the past two years that over 40 transactions have been recorded in a month. Furthermore, when compared to the average monthly volume from H2 2023, January recorded an additional nine transactions. Strong buyer participation coupled with an uptick in domestic M&A activity resulted in one of the most active months over the last two years and provides optimism for the new year.
- Strategic buyers were responsible for 24 deals, or 57% of the monthly deal volume. Strategic buyers have been active lately, recording over 20 deals in three of the last four months. Furthermore, when compared to the average monthly strategic deal volume from 2023, January recorded seven additional deals
- Financial buyer activity in the month was driven by both add-on and platform acquisitions, which recorded 11 and seven transactions, respectively. Despite platform acquisitions pulling back in each of the last two months, January was in line with the average monthly platform deal volume from Q4 2023
- In 2023, deals involving two domestic parties fell below historical averages, posting the least active year for domestic transactions since 2020. However, in January, domestic deals accounted for 15 deals, which represented the highest level of domestic activity since August 2023
- After posting a record year from a volume standpoint in 2023, Injection Molding transactions picked up where they left off in January 2024, recording 13 deals, or 31% of the monthly transaction activity
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Cooler Inflation Keeps Door Open for Rate Cuts This Year (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/what-to-watch-in-fridays-spending-report-a-last-look-at-inflation-before-the-fed-meeting-353665d9 - The Economy Just Keeps Going (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/the-economy-just-keeps-going-1878d9a3 - European General Court Endorses Oxo-Degradable Plastic Ban (Sustainable Plastics)
https://www.sustainableplastics.com/news/european-general-court-endorses-oxo-degradable-plastic-ban - Biden Administration Seeks Cuts in Single-Use Plastics Purchases (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/biden-wants-federal-agencies-cut-back-single-use-plastics - EPA Wants 15% Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging for Ecolabel (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/epa-seeks-recycled-plastic-mandate-ecolabels-amid-calls-ban-chemical-recycling#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency,should%20treat%20chemical%20recycling%20technologies.
Download Plastics M&A Update – January 2024
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.
Plastics M&A Update – June 2026
Global Plastics M&A accelerated in June, with 46 transactions announced, an increase of 10 from May and eight from June 2025.
Packaging M&A Update – May 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity slowed slightly in May, with 27 deals announced. While this reflected only a one-deal decrease compared to April, activity rebounded meaningfully from May 2025, with ten more transactions announced.
Plastics M&A Update – May 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 36 transactions in May, increasing by five deals from April and seven from May 2025, bringing year-to-date volume to 188 transactions.
Packaging M&A Update – April 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity remained stable in April, with 28 deals announced, one fewer than April 2025 and slightly above March levels. Through the first four months of 2026, 105 deals have been announced, a 27-deal decrease from the prior-year period.