Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Surges USD 28.39 Bn in 2025 at 3.25 CAGR

Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Forecast to Hit USD 37.86 Billion by 2034 with Strong Demand from Chemical Sector

According to market projections, the industrial bulk packaging industry is expected to grow from USD 27.5 billion in 2024 to USD 37.86 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 3.25%. In 2025, Asia Pacific led the industrial bulk packaging market, with plastic as the top material and hydraulic oil dominating by oil type. Drums led in packaging, while chemicals held the highest share. Europe and flexitanks are set for strong future growth.

Last Updated: 04 July 2025 Category: Material Packaging Insight Code: 5660 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

The global industrial bulk packaging market is projected to reach USD 37.86 billion by 2034, expanding from USD 28.39 billion in 2025, at an annual growth rate of 3.25% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The rapid industrial expansion across the chemical, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and agriculture industries is expected to drive the global industrial bulk packaging market over the forecast period. Sustainability is increasingly becoming a major focus, with manufacturers developing eco-friendly packaging materials to meet environmental concerns.

Drums continue to dominate due to their robust and durable nature, which makes them suitable for transporting and storing various industrial goods. The market is also experiencing significant growth, driven by the surge in industrial activity, particularly in emerging economies, which spurs the demand for reliable and efficient packaging solutions. Additionally, the market is expanding in developing and developed regions, dominated by Asia Pacific, followed by Europe.

Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Size 2024 - 2034

Key Insights

  • In terms of revenue, the market is valued at USD 28.39 billion in 2025.
  • The market is projected to reach USD 37.86 billion by 2034.
  • Rapid growth at a CAGR of 3.25% will be observed in the period between 2025 and 2034.
  • Asia Pacific dominated the industrial bulk packaging market in 2025
  • Europe is expected to grow at a significant rate in the market during the forecast period.
  • By material, the plastic segment accounted for the dominating revenue share in 2025.
  • By oil type, the hydraulic oil segment held the largest share of the market in 2025.
  • By oil type, the transformer oil segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
  • By packaging type, the drums segment registered its dominance over the global market.
  • By packaging type, the flexitanks segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR.
  • By end-use industry, the chemicals and petrochemicals segment accounted for the highest revenue share in 2025.
  • By end-use industry, the pharmaceuticals segment is expected to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period.

Market Overview

Industrial bulk oil packaging refers to the packaging solutions used to store, transport, and dispense large volumes of oil, such as engine oils, lubricants, base oils, hydraulic oils, and transformer oils for B2B use (manufacturers, OEMs, heavy equipment users, etc.)

Key Metrics and Overview

Metric Details
Market Size in 2025 USD 28.39 Billion
Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 37.86 Billion
CAGR (2025 - 2034) 3.25%
Leading Region Asia Pacific
Market Segmentation By Packaging Type, By Material, By Oil Type, By End-Use Industry and By Region
Top Key Players Greif, Inc., Mauser Packaging Solutions, SCHÜTZ GmbH and Co. KGaA, Balmer Lawrie and Co. Ltd., Time Technoplast Ltd., Snyder Industries, SIA Flexitanks Ltd.
  • The increasing focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness is anticipated to promote the growth of the market during the forecast period.
  • The rising need for durable and reliable packaging solutions is expected to drive the market’s revenue during the forecast period. 
  • The surge in global trade, along with the rising focus of businesses on better protection of goods during shipment of products from various industries, significantly contributes to the overall growth of the market.
  • The increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies, like acquisitions and mergers, by the prominent market players for designing bulk packaging is expected to accelerate the growth of the industrial bulk packaging market in the coming years. 
  • The regulatory compliance and safety standards of various countries are expected to support the growth of the market during the forecast period.

How Can AI Improve the Industrial Bulk Packaging Market?

As technology continues to evolve, AI integration holds great potential to revolutionize the industrial bulk packaging market by enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and accuracy. AI is reshaping how industrial bulk packaging processes are designed, executed, and optimized, which leads to increased cost savings, reduced waste, and improved overall quality control. AI not only meets the evolving consumer demands but also lowers the environmental footprint. AI-driven vision systems are significantly assisting in scrutinizing the packaging for defects. The use of machine learning (ML) algorithms detects imperfections and improves the quality of packaged goods. Therefore, AI-powered systems can predict maintenance needs and optimize production, leading to a reduction in waste and an increase in overall productivity.

Market Dynamics

Driver

How is the Rising Globalization and Industrialization Impacting the Market’s Growth?

The rising globalization and industrialization are expected to boost the growth of the industrial bulk packaging market during the forecast period. The rising globalization and industrialization have led to an increased need for efficient and secure packaging solutions that can handle large volumes of products across various industries. Several businesses operating in industries such as food and beverage, chemical, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical industries are widely adopting industrial bulk packaging to protect high-volume goods while handling, storing, and transportation, and also focus on aligning with evolving environmental regulations. Thus, driving the market’s growth during the forecast period.

Restraint

Limited Recycling Capacity

The limited recycling capacity associated with advanced technologies is anticipated to hamper the market's growth. Several countries, particularly middle and lower-income countries, have very limited recycling capacity, which increases the regulatory pressure to adopt environmentally friendly bulk packaging solutions. Moreover, the industrial bulk packaging requires a long cleaning validation time. Such factors are likely to limit the expansion of the global Industrial bulk packaging market.

Opportunity

Growing Focus on Sustainability and Rapid Technological Innovation

The surge in environmental concerns and the implementation of stringent regulations are promoting the increasing use of eco-friendly packaging materials and designs. Several prominent companies are increasingly investing in R&D to develop sustainable, lightweight, and intelligent packaging solutions. Additionally, the rapid technological innovation in materials science and packaging technologies improves safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The advancements in packaging technology, including the development of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and several other innovative solutions, improve the versatility, safety, and efficiency of industrial bulk packaging. Therefore, the rising shift towards recyclable bulk packaging significantly reduces their carbon footprint and contributes to a circular economy.

Segment Insights

How Plastic Segment Dominated the Market in 2025?

The plastic segment held the majority of the market share in 2025. Plastic packaging is widely used owing to its durability, strength, lightweight, cost-effectiveness, ease of mass production, and adaptability across various industries. Its lightweight and affordability nature assists in lowering the transportation costs and enhances handling efficiency, which plays a vital role in industrial bulk packaging. Numerous organizations widely prefer plastic packaging to reduce production costs while protecting against contamination or unfavourable environment, and maintaining the integrity of the product throughout the supply chain. Moreover, the rapid advancements in plastic manufacturing technologies and the increasing focus on improving the material’s strength and sustainability significantly enhance the production of eco-friendly plastic packaging.

Which Segment is Dominating the Market by oil type?

The hydraulic oil segment registered its dominance over the global Industrial bulk packaging market in 2025. The rapid globalization and industrialization in emerging economies, along with the rise in oil consumption, are expected to create substantial demand for safe transportation and storage of hydraulic oils, driving the growth of the segment during the forecast period. Hydraulic oil is most widely used in several industrial applications due to its large number of benefits, such as powering the forks that lift heavy goods.

On the other hand, the transformer oil is expected to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period. This packaging plays a crucial role in storing and distributing transformer oil. Transformer oil is commonly supplied in steel drums or barrels. Transformer oil is widely used for insulation and cooling in electrical transformers. Industrial bulk packaging ensures safe storage and transport, and prevents oil spills as well as protects from contamination and moisture. Thus, bolstering the segment’s growth.

Drums Dominated the Industrial Bulk Packaging Market in 2025

The drums segment is expected to dominate the market with the largest share in 2025. Drums make the packaging the most secure, safe, durable, and reliable, which makes them an ideal choice for storing and transporting a wide range of industrial goods, such as oils, chemicals, oils, food and beverage products, and others. Drums offer robust protection against contamination and damage to products, ensuring the safe handling of both non-hazardous and hazardous materials. They are widely available in various sizes with different materials, such as plastic, steel, metal, and fiber, which enhances their appeal across various industries. Moreover, the ease of handling and their reusability and recyclability attributes assist in promoting the circular economy.

On the other hand, flexitanks are anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR, owing to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency to safely and securely transport liquids, minimizing the risk of leaks and contamination. Flexitanks are specifically designed for transporting non-hazardous bulk liquids, including industrial chemicals, food-grade products, and other bulk liquids. Flexitanks are flexible and large containers widely used to transport liquids in standard shipping containers. In the food and beverage industries, flexitanks are most often used to transport liquids like edible oils, wine, fruit juices, and other food-grade products. Such factors are propelling the segment’s growth during the forecast period.

What Causes the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Segment to Dominate the Industrial Bulk Packaging Market?

The chemicals and petrochemicals segment held a dominant presence in the industrial bulk packaging market in 2025, owing to the increasing demand for efficient and safe transportation of chemical and petrochemical products. Chemicals and petrochemical industries increasingly require industrial bulk packaging solutions to ensure the safety of products, prevent oil spills or contamination, and comply with stringent regulatory standards. Intermediate bulk containers, drums, and other bulk packaging solutions are gaining immense popularity for handling hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals, providing robust protection during storage and transportation.

On the other hand, the pharmaceuticals and healthcare segment is expected to grow at a notable rate. The growth of the segment is mainly driven by the rising need for reliable and secure packaging solutions to store and transport pharmaceutical products. The stringent regulatory requirements implemented by various governments and regulatory bodies ensure the maintenance of product integrity during handling, storing, and transportation. Thus, driving the market’s growth in the coming years.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific is Dominating the Market with the Majority Share

Asia Pacific held the dominant share of the Industrial bulk packaging market in 2025. Asia Pacific has a strong presence of well-established food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemical industries, all are major users of Industrial bulk packaging solutions. The rapid urbanization and industrialization in countries such as China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, and Japan have significantly increased the demand for durable and efficient packaging solutions. Additionally, the rising demand from the pharmaceutical sector is expanding rapidly, fuelled by the increasing healthcare needs and surging investments to advance healthcare infrastructure by governments and key market players, necessitating reliable bulk packaging. Furthermore, the expanded manufacturing capabilities, rising focus on advancing in packaging technology, and the government's favourable policies encourage the utilization of eco-friendly packaging materials and designs to lower the carbon footprint and boost environmental sustainability. These factors are expected to propel the market’s growth in the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period.

On the other hand, Europe is expected to grow at a significant rate in the market during the forecast period. The growth of the region is attributed to the growing demand for efficient and reliable packaging solutions, the growing popularity of bio-based plastics, and rising innovation in materials science and packaging technologies. Government in the region increasingly encourages the use of sustainable packaging practices, which has led to an increasing focus of businesses on reusable and eco-friendly packaging to reduce waste and promote circular economy principles. The rising integration of smart packaging technologies such as printed sensors, NFC tags, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and other advanced technologies enables real-time tracking and inventory management. The surge in cross-border trade and rising industrial activities has significantly influenced the market’s revenue in the European region. In addition, the rising demand from pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, petrochemicals, and others is anticipated to fuel the regional market’s growth during the forecast period.

Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Key Players

Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Companies

  • Greif, Inc
  • Mauser Packaging Solutions
  • SCHÜTZ GmbH and Co. KGaA
  • Balmer Lawrie and Co. Ltd
  • Time Technoplast Ltd.
  • Snyder Industries
  • SIA Flexitanks Ltd.
  • Qbig Packaging B.V.
  • Braid Logistics
  • Büscherhoff Packaging Solutions GmbH
  • MY Flexitank (MYF)
  • Hoover CS
  • Thielmann Group
  • Bonar Plastics (part of RPC Group
  • Precision IBC 
  • Custom Metalcraft, Inc.
  • CIMC ENRI
  • Welfit Oddy Ltd.
  • Suretank Group
  • Singamas Container Holding
  • Chart Industries (VRV Group)
  • Other Players

Latest Announcement by the Industry Leader

  • In May 2025, Elkhart Plastics announced the expansion of the TUFF product line with the launch of the E-Series for safe liquid handling. They are durable and sustainable intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). The IBC is engineered for the protection of liquids during storage, transportation, and dispensing. The TUFF E-Series product line is manufactured at the company’s facility in Indiana, United States. (Source: Packaging Gateway)

Recent Development

  • In January 2025, SCHÜTZ, one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial packaging, signed a licence agreement with the National Plastic Factory Company (NPF). NPF will produce ECOBULK Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) with a filling volume of 1,000 litres for the Saudi Arabian market and the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. A state-of-the-art factory will be built in the east of the country near the strategic port city of Dammam. (Source: Zawya)
  • In May 2025, Chemco and Kandoi Group of Industries announced a strategic joint venture to build two manufacturing facilities for producing FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) bags from recycled PET (rPET) in Gujarat. The collaboration aimed at redefining sustainable packaging in India. With a Rs 450 crore investment, this greenfield joint venture will recycle over 3.6 billion PET bottles annually, run on 100 per cent renewable energy, and generate over 2,500 jobs. (Source: Construction World)

Industrial Bulk Packaging Market Segments

By Packaging Type

  • Drums
  • Steel Drums
  • Plastic (HDPE) Drums
  • IBCs
  • Caged IBCs
  • Composite IBCs
  • Stackable IBCs
  • Flexitanks
  • Multilayer Polyethylene
  • Barrier Film Types
  • Tote Tanks
  • Stainless Steel Tote Tanks
  • Aluminum Tote Tanks
  • Tank Trucks and ISO Tanks
  • Single compartment
  • Multi-compartment
  • Others (Collapsible Containers, etc.)

By Material

  • Plastic
  • HDPE
  • LLDPE
  • Metal
  • Carbon Steel
  • Stainless Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Others (Composites, etc.)

By Oil Type

  • Engine Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Diesel
  • Hydraulic Oil
  • Gear Oil
  • Industrial
  • Automotive
  • Transformer Oil
  • Mineral-based
  • Synthetic
  • Base Oils
  • Group I
  • Group II
  • Group III
  • Group IV
  • Group V
  • Others (Cutting Fluids, etc.)

By End-Use Industry

  • Automotive and Transportation
  • Industrial Machinery
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Power Generation
  • Marine and Shipping
  • Chemicals and petrochemicals
  • Others (Aerospace and Defense, etc.)

By Region

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Denmark
    • Norway
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • South Africa
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait
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  • Insight Code: 5660
  • No. of Pages: 150
  • Format: PDF/PPT/Excel
  • Last Updated: 04 July 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Yogesh Kulkarni is an experienced Research Analyst specializing in the packaging sector, with a strong foundation in statistical analysis and market intelligence. He currently contributes his expertise to Towards Packaging.

Learn more about Yogesh Kulkarni

Aditi Shivarkar, with 14+ years in packaging market research, specializes in food, beverage, and eco-friendly packaging. She ensures accurate, actionable insights, driving Towards Packaging 's excellence in industry trends and sustainability.

Learn more about Aditi Shivarkar

Related Insights

FAQ's

The market is growing at a CAGR of 3.25% from 2025 to 2034, driven by rapid industrialization and globalization across key sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and agriculture. Increasing global trade, the need for secure transport, and stricter regulatory requirements for product safety and sustainability are key growth drivers.

Asia Pacific is the most dominant region due to robust industrial expansion in China, India, and Southeast Asia, along with increasing pharmaceutical and chemical production. Europe follows, driven by a strong focus on sustainable packaging practices, innovation, and regulatory compliance, making both regions strategic investment hubs.

Sustainability is a major trend influencing product development and investment. Companies are adopting eco-friendly, recyclable, and reusable packaging materials such as rPET and bio-based plastics to reduce carbon footprints and comply with environmental regulations. This shift supports long-term brand value and regulatory alignment.

Advancements in material science and the adoption of smart packaging technologies such as RFID tags, sensors, and AI-powered defect detection are improving safety, efficiency, and traceability. AI also enables predictive maintenance and process optimization, enhancing cost efficiency and reducing waste.

While drums remain the dominant type due to durability and versatility, flexitanks are projected to grow at the fastest rate. Their cost-effectiveness and suitability for transporting non-hazardous bulk liquids make them highly attractive, especially in food-grade and chemical applications.

The chemicals and petrochemicals segment leads in market share due to high demand for secure, regulation-compliant packaging. However, the pharmaceuticals segment is expected to grow notably, driven by strict regulatory requirements and the need for reliable, contamination-free transport solutions.

AI will significantly enhance quality control, predictive maintenance, and process automation. AI-driven vision systems and ML algorithms are already reducing defects, increasing throughput, and lowering operational costs, thereby improving ROI for manufacturers and investors alike.

Stringent regulations regarding safety, waste reduction, and environmental compliance are pushing companies to adopt recyclable and safer packaging formats. Compliance is also accelerating the adoption of standardized IBCs, sustainable materials, and smart tracking technologies to ensure global trade integrity.