Saudi Arabia Plastic Packaging Market (2026 - 2033) Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (PET, PE, PS, PP, PVC), By Application (Food & Beverage, Personal & Household, Industrial Packaging, Pharmaceutical/Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts

Saudi Arabia Plastic Packaging Market Summary

The Saudi Arabia plastic packaging market size was estimated at USD 14.81 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 23.18 billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.62% from 2026 to 2033. The growing consumption of bottled water and the increasing pharmaceutical production in the country fuel the growth of the market in Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, the surging demand for packaged food products in the country due to its increasing population and rising disposable income of the middle-class population are also expected to contribute to the market growth during the forecast period. Saudi Arabia is a high-income economy with reliance on oil & gas, pharmaceutical & healthcare, personal & household items, and food & beverage industries. Consumers have a high standard of living and increased disposable income, which gives rise to the consumption of various consumer goods that are mainly packed in plastic packaging products. Moreover, the country has the presence of several local and international market players, such as Sealed Air, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Saudi Modern Packaging Co. Ltd., and others, further contributing to its plastic packaging industry growth.

Saudi Arabia is one of the leading bottled water-consuming countries in the Middle East and across the world. The demand for bottled water in the country is driven by the surging spending power of consumers, as well as their low confidence in tap drinking water. Tap water in Saudi Arabia is mostly obtained by either the seawater desalination process or through aquifers. As bottled water contains the required minerals that are beneficial to human health, increasing awareness among consumers about this is further contributing to the consumption of bottled water in the country.

The strong logistic infrastructure and strategic location of the country at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific have positioned it as a pivotal player in the global pharmaceuticals market. The growing population of the country drives the demand for essential pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. This is anticipated to fuel the growth of rigid plastic packaging products such as bottles, jars, and blisters in Saudi Arabia that are used for packaging pharmaceutical and healthcare products.

Plastic resins such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) are mainly used to produce plastic packaging products. These plastic resins are derived from crude oil. Therefore, the continuous fluctuation in crude oil prices across the world leads to uncertainty around the availability of raw materials at low or economical prices.

The plastics-to-oil technology is considered a viable method to reduce plastic packaging waste generated in Saudi Arabia. However, the growing plastic packaging waste being generated and the limited infrastructure for converting plastics to oil in the country can increase the plastic packaging waste circulation in Saudi Arabia in the coming years. This is anticipated to act as a challenge to the growth of plastic packaging industry in the country during the forecast period.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

Saudi Arabia’s plastic-packaging sector shows moderate but accelerating innovation, driven by investment in eco-friendly formulations, lightweight multilayer films, and some adoption of smart/active packaging for freshness and supply-chain traceability. Recent research and industry pilots tied to Vision 2030’s circularity goals, plus local converters experimenting with compostable blends and monomer-recovery approaches, mean R&D is skewing toward sustainability and product performance rather than radical new polymer chemistries.

M&A in Saudi plastic packaging is moderate and strategic, characterized by occasional inbound deals from global converters seeking local feedstock integration or scale, plus local consolidation as firms pursues capacity scale and specialty capabilities. The pattern is fewer headline megadeals but steady bolt-on acquisitions and JV activity that strengthens regional supply chains and downstream conversion.

Saudi policy under Vision 2030 and active standards bodies have pushed mandates and technical regulations favoring recyclability, biodegradable options and better waste management, which raises compliance costs for legacy producers but also creates market pull for certified recycled content and compliant packaging formats. These rules are accelerating investment in recycling infrastructure and are increasingly shaping procurement specifications for food, retail and government tenders.

Substitution risk is moderate to high in selected applications. Paper and molded-fiber packaging increasingly compete with plastics in foodservice and secondary packaging, particularly where recyclability and compostability are prioritized. Glass and metal present strong alternatives for premium, reusable, or long-shelf-life packaging, especially in beverages and personal care. In addition, the rising adoption of biodegradable bioplastics and recycled PET (rPET) for trays, bottles, and rigid containers represents a credible substitute for conventional virgin plastics, particularly where sustainability mandates, regulatory pressure, or brand-led ESG commitments influence material choice. Plastics retain advantages in barrier performance, cost, and supply-chain efficiency; hence substitution level is expected to be moderate.

Demand is highly concentrated in food & beverage, personal care, and fast-moving consumer goods, with growing volumes from pharmaceutical/healthcare and industrial segments; food & beverage remains the single largest end-market driving demand for flexible films, bottles and rigid containers. Large packaged-goods buyers and supermarket chains therefore exert significant negotiating power over converters on cost, recycled-content requirements and lead times.

Material Insights

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounted for the largest market share of 33.98% in the material segment in 2025. This is attributed to the growing demand for PET bottles in the food and beverage industry. PET bottles have a wide application in the packaging of carbonated soft drinks, salad dressings, sauces, vegetable oils, and others. The sector growth has a positive impact on the country’s plastic packaging market. Based on material, the market is further segmented into PET, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

On the other hand, the polypropylene (PP) segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR of 6.06% over the forecast period due to its wide application in various industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care & household, and others. In the food & beverages industry, PP is used in the packaging of microwavable packets and containers owing to its ability to resist high temperatures.

The polyethylene (PE) material segment is also expected to advance at a substantial CAGR of 5.83% during the forecast period, owing to its low cost and chemical-resistant properties. PE is mainly used for packaging products such as pouches, bags, and containers, among others, which have a high demand in various end user industries such as personal care, food & beverage, pharmaceutical products, and others.

Application Insights

The food & beverage segment recorded the largest market share of 30.43% in 2025 and is anticipated to retain its dominance over the forecast period. The huge population and high consumer income in Saudi Arabia drive the growth of the food manufacturing industry, thus boosting the demand for packaged foods. The consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging is increasing, leading to food & beverage products such as sauces, vegetable oils, carbonated soft drinks, and others being packed in PET bags, containers, bottles, pouches, and other packaging products, due to the recyclable nature of PET.

The pharmaceutical & healthcare industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.71% over the forecast period, owing to the increased government spending on healthcare and its infrastructure, and generic drugs. Plastic packaging is used for packaging medicines such as cough syrups, vaccines, injectable medications, and other pharmaceutical products. The use of plastic packaging in this sector is driven by its ability to act as a barrier against various external factors such as moisture, light, and air, which directly affect the stability and shelf life of pharmaceutical products.

The industrial packaging segment is expected to advance at a CAGR of 5.49% from 2026 to 2033. Saudi Arabia is home to several manufacturing, oil & gas, and construction industries, which require industrial packaging products such as plastic drums, jerry cans, crates, and others to ship and store industrial products. Moreover, the increase in trade activities also necessitates the presence of efficient and secure packaging solutions to store and transport products worldwide.

The personal care & household products application segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest countries for cosmetic consumption, as regional consumers spend more on their appearance, which further has a positive impact on the market. Plastic packaging has a wide application in the regional cosmetic industry, such as in packaging shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, and body wash in PET bottles and jars. Skin care products such as gels, creams, and lip balms are packed in plastic tubes with caps or pumps.

Key Saudi Arabia Packaging Company Insights

The competitive environment for Saudi Arabia’s plastic-packaging industry is shaped by a mix of large, integrated petrochemical incumbents, a growing cohort of local and regional converters, and selective inbound interest from global players seeking feedstock-linked capacity or specialty capabilities. Buyers in food & beverage, pharma and retail exert strong procurement power, pushing converters to offer certified recycled content, improved barrier performance and faster lead times, which in turn favors well-capitalized players who can invest in recycling, certification and localized supply chains in line with Vision 2030.

• On October 2025, Coveris announced a strategic collaboration with SABIC to develop medical packaging solutions that are fully recyclable within the plastics loop. The partnership focuses on integrating SABIC’s certified circular polymers, derived from advanced recycling of post‑consumer plastic waste, into Coveris’ medical packaging portfolio. This initiative aims to enhance sustainability in healthcare packaging by reducing reliance on virgin plastics, ensuring compliance with stringent medical standards, and supporting the broader transition toward a closed‑loop circular economy in the medical sector.

• On August 2025, Napco National accounted the acquisition of Arabian Flexible Packaging, through its Dubai‑based subsidiary Napco Investment LLC. The deal, effective August 1, 2025, strengthens Napco’s manufacturing footprint and packaging portfolio, while aligning with the UAE’s In‑Country Value localization framework. Napco emphasized that the acquisition supports its circular economy initiatives, enhances customer responsiveness through localized production, and consolidates its position as a regional leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

Saudi Arabia Plastic Packaging Market Report Scope

Saudi Arabia Plastic Packaging Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at country level and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the Saudi Arabia plastic packaging market report based on material, application, and region:

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

  • Polyethylene (PE)

  • Polystyrene (PS)

  • Polypropylene (PP)

  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • Food & Beverage

    • Bottles & Jars

    • Caps & Closures

    • Cups

    • Trays

    • Pouches

    • Labels/Wraps

    • Jerry Cans

    • Plates & Bowls

    • Containers

    • Drums/Cans

  • Personal & Household

    • Bottles & Jars

    • Caps & Closures

    • Pouches

    • Trays

    • Tube

    • Labels/Wraps

  • Industrial Packaging

    • Bottles

    • Jerry Cans

    • Wheelie Bins

    • Drums & Barrels

    • Crates

    • Pallets

    • Caps & Closures

    • Stretch Films

    • Shrink Films

    • Sleeves & Labels

    • Bags & Sacks

  • Pharmaceutical/Healthcare

    • Plastic Bottles & Jars

    • Caps & Closures

    • Parenteral Containers

    • Blister Packs

    • Syringes

    • Cartridges

    • Prefillable Inhalers

    • Pouches

    • Tubes

    • Labels/Accessories