Plastics Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Plastics M&A recorded 36 deals in November, which was three more transactions than the 2024 monthly average. Elevated financial buyer activity drove deal flow in November, while strategic buyers experienced slightly below-average volume. Despite above-average activity, November 2024 fell short of the November 2023 volume, which recorded 40 transactions and set the high-water mark for 2023. Through 11 months, 370 deals have been tallied, representing a 24-deal increase over the same period in 2023. November marked the seventh consecutive month with more than 30 deals completed, as Global Plastics M&A positive momentum continues in Q4.
- The Specialty and Injection Molding subsectors led activity in November, accounting for nearly 75% of all transactions. While most subsectors were largely consistent with year-to-date averages, Specialty volume surpassed this mark by three deals. Notably, the Specialty subsector also posted an eight-deal uptick relative to November 2023 levels
- 21 transactions were attributed to financial buyers, or 59% of all deal volume in the month. Add-on and platform acquisitions both experienced elevated volume from their 2024 averages while strategic buyer activity lagged by two deals
- Deals involving two foreign buyers tied for the largest share of deal flow at 14 deals for the month. Domestic M&A also matched pace with 14 deals in November. US-based buyers investing in foreign entities accounted for 17% of activity, this transaction type’s largest share of deal volume in the year
- The Industrial end market was again the primary driver of deal activity during the month but accounted for a smaller portion of deal activity compared to prior months. Food & Beverage and Medical had strong months, posting the third and second highest volume months in 2024, respectively
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Amcor Acquiring Berry in $8.4B Deal to Create Global Plastics and Healthcare Packaging Giant (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/amcor-acquire-berry-global-konieczny-plastic-film-healthcare/733299/ - Another Push for Production Caps at Plastics Treaty Talks (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/eu-joins-push-production-caps-plastics-treaty - Compounding M&A activity slows, but demand remains (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/plastics-compounding-ma-activity-slows-demand-remains - Trump’s Win Means Changes in Plastics Environmental, Trade Policies (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/trump-win-set-bring-change-environmental-trade-and-plastics-treaty-policies - Hiring Bounced Back With 227,000 Jobs Added Last Month (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-november-unemployment-economy-3088b8cc - Powell Says Solid Economy Allows Fed to Consider Rate Cuts ‘Carefully’ (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/powell-says-solid-economy-allows-fed-to-consider-rate-cuts-carefully-3055c890?mod=central-banking_more_article_pos69
Download Plastics M&A Update – November 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.