Report forecasts growth in packaging machinery shipments beginning in 2025
A new report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies forecasts growth in U.S. packaging machinery shipments in 2025 after a downturn in 2024.
PMMI’s 2024 State of the Industry report projects a 2.5% growth rate this year after 5.8% growth in 2023 brought the industry to $10.9 billion. In 2025, the report projects growth rates to climb again, peaking at 8% in 2027.
The 2024 slowdown is expected to be the next low point in the industry’s usual peak-to-trough sales cycle, typically lasting three to five years, according to PMMI, producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows.
Factors influencing machinery investments include industry investment in new plants and line upgrades, lower interest rates and changes in consumer preferences such as the growing popularity of individually packaged single servings.
Consumer and regulatory demands for more sustainable packaging remain a major influence, according to the reports. These demands are encouraging end users to transition away from single-use plastics to more renewable and/or recyclable packaging materials and set goals to reduce carbon emissions.
Labor shortages also continue to influence machinery purchases, driving interest in automation and orders for easier-to-use machines.
An increase in product recalls is driving interest in hygienic features and strengthening demand for advanced clean-in-place and clean-out-of-place designs, the report found. These solutions include preventive and predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence-supported interfaces and AI-based data analysis.
Industry segments
The report (.pdf) is organized by industry segment and machine type. Food is projected maintain its position as the most significant industry segment, but the Pharmaceuticals segment is expected to grow faster.
The four best-selling machinery categories in 2023 were Conveying, Feeding, and Handling; Cartoning, Multipacking, and Case Packing; Bagging, Pouching, and Wrapping; and Filling, Capping, and Closing.
Sales in all machinery segments are projected to grow yearly, peaking in 2027 and slowing slightly in 2028.
