Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A recorded 33 transactions in March, representing a decline of five deals from the prior month. Despite this modest month-over-month decrease, overall deal volume in the sector remains elevated relative to 2024, with 107 transactions completed in the first quarter of 2025—an increase of 16 deals compared to the same period last year. Notably, March marked the eleventh consecutive month with more than 30 completed transactions, signaling sustained M&A activity in the Global Plastics sector that has continued well into 2025, even in the face of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.
- The Specialty and Injection Molding subsectors led activity in March, collectively accounting for over 75% of all transactions recorded during the month. While most subsectors remained consistent with Q1 2024 volumes through the first quarter of 2025, both Specialty and Injection Molding outperformed prior year levels, surpassing activity by nine and 14 transactions, respectively
- Strategic buyers accounted for 22 transactions, representing 67% of total deal volume in March. Add-on and platform acquisition activity slowed, making March the lowest-volume month of 2025 for financial buyers. Q1 2025 closed with a balanced split between buyer types, with strategic buyers accounting for 53% of the total deal volume
- Deals involving two foreign parties accounted for 17 transactions in March which was well above January and February levels. In contrast, domestic M&A saw a notable decline month-over-month after elevated deal flow in the first two months of 2025
- The Industrial end market continued to drive deal activity in 2025, making up over 55% of quarterly volume, which is marginally lower than historical levels
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Paper, Metal, Plastics Sectors Raise Alarm Over North America Tariffs (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/tariffs-effective-us-canada-mexico-paper-aluminum/741410/ - Amcor Takeover of Berry Clears US Antitrust Hurdle (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/amcor-takeover-berry-clears-us-antitrust-hurdle - U.S. Added 151,000 Jobs Last Month (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-february-2025-unemployment-economy-1e0d14a8?mod=jobs_more_article_pos4 - Newsom Orders Redo of California Plastics EPR Law, Citing Costs (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/newsom-orders-redo-california-plastics-epr-law-ngos-threaten-revive-ballot-measure - Mass Balance Sparks Debate in Plastic Package Recycling (PlasticsToday)
https://www.plasticstoday.com/medical/mass-balance-sparks-debate-in-plastic-package-recycling - Plastics Targeted by Retaliatory EU Tariffs (PlasticsToday)
https://www.plasticstoday.com/legislation-regulations/plastics-targeted-for-retaliatory-eu-tariffs
Download Plastics M&A Update – March 2025
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.