The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) 2022 State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Report provides industry converters, suppliers, investors, and analysts with insight into the performance of the U.S. flexible packaging industry over the past year.
The U.S. flexible packaging industry is estimated to be $39 billion in sales for 2021, up from $34.8 billion in 2020, and industry volume is estimated to be 27 billion pounds of shipments in 2021.
The focus of the report is on the segment of the industry that adds significant value to flexible materials, usually by performing multiple processes, such as printing, laminating, coating, extrusion, and bag/pouch manufacturing. This segment of the industry is estimated to be $29.5 billion for 2021 and does not include retail shopping bags, consumer storage bags, or trash bags.
The FPA bases its annual report on data from converter and supplier members, along with several U.S. Census components, and the survey results were tabulated in mid-2022. Much of the data reported is for the year 2021 along with some projections for 2022.
Key Findings
• Flexible packaging represents approximately 20 percent of the total $184.65 billion U.S. packaging industry and is the second largest packaging segment behind corrugated paper.
• Films and resins account for the largest input spend for converters with those two categories accounting for more than two-thirds of material purchases.
• 2021 saw a record number of merger and acquisition activity with 62 transactions recorded.
• Imports and exports each jumped an estimated 18 percent.
• FPA converter and supplier members ranked “Labor/Talent” as the industry’s biggest issue for 2022.
This definitive source of data and information also examines several other aspects of the U.S. flexible packaging industry including: Performance (growth, revenue/volume expectations, profitability, and capital spending); Materials and processes (printing and expected material usage); End-uses (end-use forecast); Structure and consolidation (M&A activity); Imports and exports (trade outlook); and Industry vision, challenges, and critical issues.
