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Analysis of the Current State of China's Packaging Industry Market: Plastic Packaging Accounts for 65.66% of Export Value

Published:2023-07-28 · Industry News · Source: China Packaging Network
Key Takeaways
  • In 2021, China's packaging industry recorded total cumulative imports and exports of US$65.68 billion, up 24.31% year on year.
  • In 2021, China's packaging industry posted export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year, and import value of US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year, maintaining a large trade surplus.
  • Within China's 2021 packaging exports, plastic packaging accounted for 65.66% of export value, paper packaging 17.66%, metal packaging 5.9%, glass packaging 5.18%, packaging machinery and other 4.59%, and bamboo and wood packaging 1.02%.
  • Plastic packaging export value reached US$32.222 billion in 2021, up 42.33% year on year; paper packaging reached US$8.669 billion, up 31.09%; and metal packaging reached US$2.895 billion, up 42.33%.
  • Ranked by export value based on the registered location of consignees and consignors, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Shanghai were China's top five packaging export regions in 2021; Guangdong recorded US$12.941 billion (26.37%), Zhejiang US$10.011 billion (20.4%), and Jiangsu US$6.413 billion (13.07%).

I. Overview of Packaging Industry Imports and Exports

Packaging is the general term for the containers, materials and auxiliary items used, according to certain technical methods, to protect products in the course of circulation, facilitate storage and transport and promote sales. In 2021 China's packaging industry completed total cumulative imports and exports of US$65.68 billion, up 24.31% year on year.

Import and export value and growth rate of China's packaging industry, 2019-2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Of this, in 2021 China's packaging industry recorded cumulative export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year, and cumulative import value of US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year. The industry maintained a large trade surplus.

Import and export value of China's packaging industry, 2019-2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Related report: “

Survey of the Development Status and Market Analysis and Forecast Report for China's Packaging Industry, 2023-2029” published by Zhiyan Consulting

II. Packaging Exports

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. Of this, plastic packaging accounted for 65.66% of cumulative export value; paper packaging accounted for 17.66%; metal packaging accounted for 5.9%; glass packaging accounted for 5.18%; packaging machinery and other accounted for 4.59%; and bamboo and wood packaging accounted for 1.02%.

Breakdown of China's packaging industry exports by segment in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Of this, plastic packaging recorded cumulative export value of US$32.222 billion, up 42.33% year on year; paper packaging recorded cumulative export value of US$8.669 billion, up 31.09% year on year; metal packaging recorded cumulative export value of US$2.895 billion, up 42.33% year on year; glass packaging recorded cumulative export value of US$2.54 billion, up 27.3% year on year; packaging machinery and other recorded cumulative export value of US$2.252 billion, up 34.95% year on year; and bamboo and wood packaging recorded cumulative export value of US$498 million, up 10.17% year on year.

Breakdown of China's packaging industry export value by segment, 2020-2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. Ranked by export value according to the registered location of consignees and consignors, the top five regions were Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Shanghai. Of these: Guangdong recorded cumulative export value of US$12.941 billion (26.37%); Zhejiang recorded cumulative export value of US$10.011 billion (20.4%); Jiangsu recorded cumulative export value of US$6.413 billion (13.07%); Shandong recorded cumulative export value of US$5.011 billion (10.21%); and Shanghai recorded cumulative export value of US$3.096 billion (6.31%).

Share of China's packaging industry's main export regions in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, the national packaging industry completed cumulative export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. The top five export destinations by value were the United States, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Of these: the United States accounted for 17.05% of cumulative export value; Vietnam accounted for 7.25%; Japan accounted for 4.75%; South Korea accounted for 4.17%; and Malaysia accounted for 3.7%.

Share of China's packaging industry's main export regions in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Of this, in 2021 China recorded cumulative export value to the United States of US$8.366 billion, up 33.28% year on year; to Vietnam of US$3.557 billion, up 16.97% year on year; to Japan of US$2.329 billion, up 16.69% year on year; to South Korea of US$2.045 billion, up 32.28% year on year; and to Malaysia of US$1.818 billion, up 30.89% year on year.

Export value of China's packaging industry by main region, 2020-2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative export value of US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. Of this, general trade recorded cumulative export value of US$35.968 billion, up 28.98% year on year; other recorded cumulative export value of US$5.301 billion, up 41.52%; import processing trade recorded cumulative export value of US$5.23 billion, up 13.03%; small-scale border trade recorded cumulative export value of US$898 million, up 2.47%; and goods for transhipment stored in bonded areas recorded cumulative export value of US$680 million, up 30.31%;

Goods entering and leaving bonded warehouses recorded cumulative export value of US$673 million, up 19.46%; processing and assembly trade with supplied materials recorded cumulative export value of US$302 million, up -0.95%; goods exported under overseas contracted projects recorded cumulative export value of US$19 million, up 71.21%; materials provided as gratuitous aid and gifts between countries and by international organisations recorded cumulative export value of US$3 million, up -46.99%; outward processing trade recorded cumulative export value of US$2 million, up 325.94%; and consignment and agency trade recorded cumulative export value of US$2 million, up 554.88%.

Export value of China's packaging industry by trade mode in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

III. Packaging Imports

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative import value of US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year. Of this, plastic packaging recorded cumulative import value of US$14.934 billion, accounting for 89.94% of total imports; packaging machinery and other recorded cumulative import value of US$1.223 billion, accounting for 7.37%; metal packaging recorded cumulative import value of US$196 million, accounting for 1.18%; paper packaging recorded cumulative import value of US$171 million, accounting for 1.03%; glass packaging recorded cumulative import value of US$78 million, accounting for 0.47%; and bamboo and wood packaging recorded cumulative import value of 200 million US cents, accounting for 0.01% of total imports.

Breakdown of China's packaging industry import value by segment in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative import value of US$16.604 billion. Ranked by import value according to the registered location of consignees and consignors, the top five regions were Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Tianjin. Of these: Jiangsu recorded cumulative import value of US$4.753 billion, accounting for 28.63% of total imports; Guangdong recorded cumulative import value of US$4.013 billion, accounting for 24.17%; Shanghai recorded cumulative import value of US$3.153 billion, accounting for 18.99%; Zhejiang recorded cumulative import value of US$795 million, accounting for 4.79%; and Tianjin recorded cumulative import value of US$635 million, accounting for 3.82%.

Import value and share of China's packaging industry by main region in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry completed cumulative import value of US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year. The top five import source countries by value were Japan, South Korea, the United States, Taiwan Province and Germany. Of these: Japan accounted for 36.78% of cumulative import value, South Korea for 17.91%, the United States for 11.58%, Taiwan Province for 9.36%, and Germany for 5.92%.

Share of China's packaging industry's main import regions in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Of this, in 2021 China's packaging industry recorded cumulative import value from Japan of US$6.108 billion, up 18.23% year on year; from South Korea of US$2.973 billion, up 10.85%; from the United States of US$1.923 billion, up 22.03%; from Taiwan Province of US$1.555 billion, up 17.12%; and from Germany of US$983 million, up 17.6%.

Import value and year-on-year growth of China's packaging industry by main region in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Of this, in 2021 China's packaging industry recorded cumulative import value of US$10.04 billion under general trade; US$4.446 billion under import processing trade; US$1.381 billion for goods for transhipment stored in bonded areas; US$356 million under processing and assembly trade with supplied materials; US$143 million for goods entering and leaving bonded warehouses; US$138 million for imported equipment in export processing zones; US$96 million for other; and US$1 million for equipment and goods imported by foreign-invested enterprises as investment.

Import value of China's packaging industry by trade mode in 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

The above data and information may be referenced in

the “Survey of the Development Status and Market Analysis and Forecast Report for China's Packaging Industry, 2023-2029” published by Zhiyan Consulting

Zhiyan Consulting is a comprehensive information and intelligence provider in China's industrial consulting sector. With the brand philosophy of “using information to drive industrial development and empower corporate investment decisions”, the company provides professional industrial consulting services, including premium industry research reports, bespoke projects, monthly special topics, feasibility studies, business plans and industrial planning. It provides regular reports such as weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports as well as customised data, covering policy monitoring, company developments, industry data, product price changes, investment and financing overviews, market opportunities and risk analysis.

— This article is reprinted from the China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-379442.html

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