Egypt Paper Packaging Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Egypt Paper Packaging Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Egypt Paper Packaging Market is expected to grow by registering a CAGR of approximately 3.7% during the forecast period. With the focus now shifting towards eco-friendly and sustainability, paper packaging is expected to gain traction in the country as consumers are pushing for paper packaging products over plastic packaging, which poses a significant threat to the environment.

• Paper packaging primarily involves paper-based wrap to protect and improve the product's image. Paper packaging also creates opportunities for marketing purposes like promoting the brand or creating awareness in the market.
• According to the Egyptian Export Council for Printing, Packaging, Paper, Literary, and Artistic Works, exports in these categories increased by 37% between January and June of the last year to reach USD 614.6 million, up from USD 449.4 million during the same period in 2021. Also, paper exports went up by 30% to USD 232.5 million against USD 142.3 million in the corresponding period last year.
• A USD 500 million development finance agreement between Egypt and the World Bank is also discussed to bolster Egypt's efforts to achieve food security and support the Egyptian economy in the face of the European debt crisis.
• The global COVID-19 outbreak notably impacted the Egyptian paper packaging market. Although Egypt reacted relatively early to curb the outbreak of this pandemic, negative external factors such as declined export volume owing to reduced demand combined with the partial lockdown affected the local market to cause significant disruptions. There is also an impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the overall packaging ecosystem.
• However, with the conditions improving and the countries opening up their boundaries, the paper packaging industry in the country is expected to regain momentum during the forecast period.

• Packaging waste is considered a massive problem in Egypt. The problem is growing significantly over the past few years. According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Egypt produces 5.4 million metric tons of plastic annually, making it the most prominent plastic polluter in the Arab world.
• Furthermore, the pandemic significantly increased the use of single-use plastic, the main component in masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles, test kits, takeout containers, and delivery packaging.
• However, owing to the increasing level of packaging waste generated in the country every year, the need to develop a practical approach to handle it and increase awareness among consumers is felt.
• As a result, several initiatives have been taken by the Egyptian government and several organizations operating in the region to reduce plastic use for packaging. For instance, in March 2021, the Egyptian environment ministry announced a USD 3 million project to limit plastic bag use. The project will be funded by Japan and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
• Such initiatives and growing consumer awareness are anticipated to create significant opportunities in the Egyptian paper packaging market during the forecast period.

• The country's move to reduce plastic packaging consumption in line with the global movement is creating opportunities in the paper packaging market. Paper packaging development involves consideration of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and environmental and recycling regulations.
• As a result, they are moving away from single-use plastic bags and investing in eco-friendly packaging such as paper and fiber-board solutions. Furthermore, the rapid development in e-commerce also impacted the paper packaging industry's growth.
• Additionally, e-commerce volume reached about USD 4.8 billion in the previous year, compared to USD 3.6 billion in 2018, according to the latest statistics issued by the Federation of Egyptian Banks. The growing smartphone penetration, along with the increasing number of internet users in the country, is further driving the e-commerce sector growth in the country.
• The growth of the retail and e-commerce industry, along with the growing demand for sustainable packaging, is creating a favorable environment for the development of the paper packaging industry in the country, which is anticipated to grow further during the forecast period.

The Egyptian Paper Packaging Market is moderately competitive, owing to the presence of several players. The players operating in the market are focusing on developing innovative packaging solutions to gain a competitive advantage and strengthen their market presence further. Some major players operating in the market include Amcor Plc, Graphic Packaging International Corporation, International Paper Company, and Tetra Laval Group.

• In October of 2022, SIG introduced "Recycle for Good" in Egypt, a ground-breaking recycling program that allows discarded aseptic carton packs to be collected directly from homes and restaurants via technological means. It is the first project of its sort in the Egyptian market in SIG, and Tagaddod is involved. Customers can arrange for their used cartons collection from their homes or employment places via a mobile app in exchange for incentives. To ensure valuable resources continue to be used and benefit nearby communities, the project aims to provide incentives for recycling used beverage cartons.

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