Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A activity sustained elevated levels through the first month of 2025 with 36 deals announced, which marked the ninth consecutive month with more than 30 deals recorded. Although transaction volumes in January 2025 were slightly below those of January 2024, they surpassed the 2024 monthly average by three deals. A portion of the deal activity in the month was likely due to deals that were set to close at the end of 2024 extending into the new year. The continued demand for M&A in the Global Plastics sector offers optimism despite uncertainty in the broader macroeconomic environment.
- While most subsectors saw a decline in January activity year-over-year, the Injection Molding subsector posted 17 deals, representing a four-deal increase over prior year volumes. The Injection Molding subsector accounted for slightly less than half of all plastics activity and increased from December levels by 13 transactions
- Financial buyers tallied 25 deals, accounting for nearly 70% of deal volume which was well above historical levels. Elevated financial buyer activity was the result of both add-on and platform acquisitions in the month
- Deals involving two U.S.-based parties led all other geography types, logging 20 deals in the month, a feat that was last witnessed in January 2022 and a 13-deal increase over December. All other geography types declined from prior year activity levels with no foreign buyers acquiring a U.S.-based plastics company in January
- Only the Consumer and Medical end markets increased from prior year levels, outpacing January 2024 activity by five and four deals, respectively. Additionally, the Consumer and Medical end markets outpaced Q4 2024 levels, surpassing the period average by two deals for each end market
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Resin Prices End 2024 Either Lower or Flat (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/resin-prices-end-2024-drop-or-flat - Will 2025 Bring an M&A Surge to Plastics? (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/mergers-acquisitions/optimism-grows-plastics-ma-surge-2025 - EU Says ‘No Deal Preferable to Bad Deal’ in Plastics Treaty (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/eu-backs-majority-voting-plastics-treaty-says-no-deal-preferable-bad-deal - Where is Packaging Industry Consolidation Likely in 2025? Experts Weigh In (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/packaging-mergers-acquisitions-2025-outlook-volumes/738471/ - Inflation Ticks Up to 2.9%, but Underlying Price Gains Are Muted (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/cpi-report-inflation-december-interest-rate-0347479e?mod=central-banking_more_article_pos48 - How the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Tariffs Will Work—and What Products Are Targeted (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/how-the-u-s-canada-mexico-tariffs-will-workand-what-products-are-targeted-10c80f41?mod=trade_news_article_pos1
Download Plastics M&A Update – January 2025
