Saudi Arabia Packaging Market: By Packaging Type (Rigid, Flexible, Paper, and Aseptic), By End User (Food &Beverage, Pharma, Personal Care, Industrial, and E-Commerce), By Material (Polymer, Paper, Glass, and Metal), and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Saudi Arabia Packaging Market size was valued at US$ 8,373.2 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 13,270.6 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 6.8% from 2025-2031. The Saudi Arabia packaging industry encompasses materials, equipment, and services employed in manufacturing containers, wraps, and packaging solutions for industrial products, pharmaceuticals, food, and consumer goods.

Economic diversification and increasing emphasis on consumer convenience are propelling Saudi Arabia's packaging industry. With increasing exports and increasing domestic consumption, food & beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical sectors are making increased investments in packaging solutions. Infrastructure growth and retail growth—particularly contemporary supermarkets and online retailing—are stimulating demand for technological, branded, and protective packaging. Sustainability consciousness is developing, stimulating gradual adoption of recyclable and compostable packaging. The industry is, though, challenged by dependence on imports to provide technology and materials, and sparse local recycling infrastructures. Single-use plastic regulatory pressures are mounting but are not yet across the board. Compounding this, high energy costs and volatile raw-material prices cause budgeting uncertainty. Nevertheless, as local makers react with lightweight and locally adapted packaging, momentum is not affected.

Facts & Figures 

• Flexible packaging accounted for ~42% of total packaging consumption
• Rigid plastics made up ~28%, used heavily in bottles and containers
• Paper & board contributed ~15%, driven by e-commerce and retail
• Glass packaging held ~9%, prominent in pharmaceuticals and premium beverages
• Metal packaging (mostly aluminum) represented ~6%, used in cans and aerosols

key Developments 

• In April 2025, Alpla Arabia announced installation of its first PET bottle-to-bottle recycling equipment in Jeddah, supporting circular packaging in soft-drink and water bottle supply chains.
• In March 2025, Tetra Pak Saudi opened a state-of-the-art carton packaging line in Riyadh capable of producing high-speed aseptic cartons tailored for dairy and juice producers targeting exports.
• In February 2025, Savola Group Packaging rolled out digital-print capable pouch production in Dammam, offering flexible pouch packaging for snacks and pet food with rapid branding customization.
• In January 2025, Saudi Paper Manufacturing launched a new recycled-paper board line in the Eastern Province, aimed at supporting corrugated and carton board production with locally sourced recycled pulp. 

Saudi Arabia Packaging Market Segmentation

Based on the packaging type

• Rigid Packaging (plastics, glass, metal)
• Flexible Packaging (films, pouches, bags)
• Paper & Corrugated
• Aseptic Cartons

Flexible packaging, which encompasses films, pouches, laminated bags, and sachets, is expanding rapidly in Saudi Arabia because it is light in weight, less material intensive, and convenient. Food and snack food companies are gravitating towards resealable stand-up pouches for freshness and shelf appearance, while liquid food applications utilize spouted pouches and retort films. Flexible packaging aids increased production changeover and improved product branding via digital print and metallic finishes. This presentation also minimizes shipping expenses and storage space for FMCG firms with a high volume of imports. Environmental scrutiny on plastic waste is compelling manufacturers to seek recyclable multi-layer material and compostable film, though local recycling is limited. Flexibility of the flexible packaging to adapt to market trends and reduced logistics footprint position it as a strategic priority area in the Saudi market.

Based on the end user

• Food & Beverage
• Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
• Personal Care & Cosmetics
• Industrial & Chemicals
• E-commerce & Retail

The food & beverages sector is the biggest end-user of packaging in Saudi Arabia, ranging from bottled water to milk, snacks, and ready meals. Consumer preference for convenience, safety, and brand quality drives packaging decisions, prompting companies to use laminated cartons, PET bottles, metal cans, and flexible sachets. Thermal barrier packaging and tamper-evident seals are becoming a requirement for dairy and juices. Growing home consumption and frozen food demand is propelling microwave-safe tray and frozen film demand. Fast-casual restaurants and cafés also utilize environmentally friendly to-go food boxes. As travel and hospitality activity continues to grow, branded and functional packaging becomes more coveted. In total, the F&B segment is driving the varied packaging formats, innovation, and scaled production in the Saudi market.

Based on the material

• Polymer
• Paper & Board
• Glass
• Metal

Polymer packaging is most common in Saudi Arabia in food, drinks, personal care, and household products. PET, HDPE, LDPE, and polypropylene are among the materials utilized as they are flexible, lightweight, long-lasting, and cost-effective. They allow the production of bottles, films, trays, pouches, and caps that can be used for rigid and flexible packaging. The availability of locally based petrochemical raw materials makes polymer packaging a natural choice for manufacturers with easy feedstock access in the Eastern Province. Growing environmental pressure is, however, pushing the market towards recycled and biologically derived packaging. Some packaging firms are experimenting with recyclable content and biodegradable polymers, but take-up remains limited due to infrastructure concerns. Notwithstanding this, polymers remain indispensable due to their operational properties, cost, and adaptability to modern branding, sealing, and printing processes.