PMCF Industry M&A Activity Tracking
M&A volume for Global Plastics recorded 36 transactions in March 2021, a 50% increase over last year and not far off from the monthly peak for the sector. Strategic and private equity add-on buyers accounted for all the growth in transaction activity for the month while private equity platform transactions were equal to last year.
On a year-to-date basis, Global Plastics transactions are up 38% over last year and on track to exceed pre-COVID activity levels for the year. The total volume of 101 transactions for the first three months represents the highest level of quarterly activity recorded in the past six years. Most Global Plastics subsectors reported increases for year, but the outlier was Injection Molding, which has more than double the transaction volume compared to last year.
Global Packaging M&A activity also had a strong month, recording double the transaction volume compared to 2020 and the highest level of monthly activity so far this year. Transactions in the Flexible Plastic subsector are driving most of the growth on a year-to-date basis, rebounding from depressed levels experienced for the majority of 2020. Similar to Global Plastics, strategic and private equity add-on buyers were responsible for the majority of the growth in the sector during March while private equity increased its overall share of transaction volume from 40% to 50% on a year-to-date basis.
March’s robust transaction volume and the results for the first quarter 2021 confirmed for us that M&A activity in both Plastics and Packaging sectors has recovered from the impact of COVID-19. We are not sure how the full year will end up but the current momentum in the M&A markets would signal the continuation of high levels of activity. In addition to strong M&A fundamentals, the potential for a significant change in capital gains taxes from the Biden-Harris Administration is prompting sellers to pursue a transaction sooner than they might of otherwise.
If you are a plastics or 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.
Notable M&A Activity
Public Entity Performance
Major News in Plastics & Packaging
- Packaging Gateway: Plastic pollution bill reintroduced by US lawmakers
https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/us-lawmakers-bill-plastic-pollution/ - Plastics News SBA extends, expands COVID-19 Loan Program
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/sba-extends-expands-covid-19-loan-program - Plastics News A March toward higher prices for commodity resins
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/march-toward-higher-prices-commodity-resins - Wall Street Journal: Ship wedged in Suez Canal Disrupts Trade
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-suez-canal-is-blocked-by-a-giant-container-ship-11616560437
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.