The European Union’s market for machinery used in packing or wrapping is set for steady long-term growth, with market value forecast to almost double by 2035 despite persistent pressure on unit prices, according to a new analysis by IndexBox Market Intelligence.
In 2024, EU consumption of packing and wrapping machinery reached 626,000 units, up 14% year on year, while market value stood at $4.9 billion. Germany, Italy and Spain were the largest consuming countries, together accounting for 47% of total EU demand by volume. However, despite the recent rebound, consumption remains below its 2016 peak of 865,000 units, highlighting the market’s uneven recovery over the past decade.
Production across the European Union continued to expand, rising 13% in 2024 to reach 1.2 million units, the highest level recorded during the period under review. Italy remained the dominant producer, manufacturing 525,000 units, followed by Germany with 282,000 units and the Netherlands with 81,000 units. In value terms, EU production was estimated at $10.1 billion, although this figure remains below the record $11.4 billion achieved in 2018.
Trade activity showed strong volume growth but was accompanied by a sharp erosion in prices. EU imports climbed to 540,000 units in 2024, ending a two-year decline, while exports rose 28% to approximately 1.1 million units. However, average unit prices fell steeply. Import prices dropped to $4,200 per unit in 2024, down nearly 30% from the previous year, while export prices declined 22.4% to $6,900 per unit. Both figures are a fraction of their 2013 levels, reflecting intensifying competition and structural price pressure in the global market.
Italy confirmed its position as the EU’s leading exporter, accounting for 44% of total export volumes with shipments of 477,000 units. Germany ranked second with 210,000 units, followed by the Netherlands and Spain. In value terms, Italy ($3.1 billion), Germany ($2.0 billion) and the Netherlands ($532 million) together represented 77% of EU exports. Hungary emerged as the fastest-growing exporter over the 2013–2024 period, recording a compound annual growth rate of 18.2% in export volumes.
On the import side, Germany remained the largest buyer by volume, followed by France and Spain. Hungary and France stood out for their strong long-term growth in imports, with compound annual growth rates of 48.4% and 29.1%, respectively, underscoring shifting demand patterns within the bloc.
Looking ahead, IndexBox forecasts that EU consumption of packing and wrapping machinery will continue to trend upward over the next decade. Market volume is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% between 2024 and 2035, reaching 817,000 units by the end of the forecast period. In value terms, growth is expected to be significantly stronger, with a projected CAGR of 6.1%, taking the market to $9.3 billion by 2035 in nominal wholesale prices.
The outlook reflects rising demand for automated and advanced packaging solutions across European manufacturing, even as price dynamics remain challenging for producers and exporters.
