India Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

India Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The India returnable transport packaging (RTP) market was valued at USD 628 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 994.3 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The growing packaging material and supply-chain costs, government regulations, and environmental pressures are anticipated to make returnable transport packaging an attractive and profitable option in the region over the forecast period.

Key Highlights

• The packaging industry is situated among the high-growing sectors in India and developing at a rate of 22% to 25% per annum, according to the Packaging Industry Association of India (PIAI). According to a study by trade and commerce trade association, ASSOCHAM, the packaging industry in India is anticipated to reach USD 73.6 billion by FY 2020, resulting in its growing population and income levels.
• The rising cost of packaging, damage to goods in transit, availability of packaging material, and loss of disposing of the packaging material has now brought the attention of companies to sustainable packaging. Hence, businesses realize the importance of having a lasting and low-cost packaging system in place. With the growing demand for consumer goods, which includes even consumer electronics and home appliances, many companies have invested in the Indian retail space in the past few years, driving the retail sector with significant growth across various industries.
• Additionally, the rise of the Indian middle class, the growth of organized retail in the country, rapid growth in exports, and India's e-commerce boom fuel the packaging industry's growth. Thus, the adoption of better packaging methods, materials, and machinery which ensures quality has become very essential for Indian businesses.
• Retailers, especially from the United States and Europe, have been showing interest constantly in the Indian market due to the vast amount of growth opportunities in this sector. This is highlighted by the fact that over 40 major international brands have entered the country over the last two years. Returnable packaging is constantly improving the way that businesses carry out the shipment of their products around in the region. Instead of one-way packaging that is used once and then thrown out, returnable packaging is reused, eliminating the recurring costs of packaging production.
• COVID-19 has impacted the economy with high transaction costs and uncertainty in India's transformed food supply chains. It puts food security at risk as 92% of food consumption in India is purchased, predominantly from the private sector. The government of India is facing the challenge of gathering resources between mitigating the impending food crisis and containing the contagion as the risk of sociopolitical tensions looms large. Amidst all these, the Returnable Transport Packaging Market was also affected significantly during April and May 2020 due to imposed lockdown and restrictions in India.

Key Market TrendsAutomotive Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth

• The automotive industry has evolved into an industry of complex supply chains and networks, requiring many activities to be streamlined and error-free to avoid abnormalities. Returnable transport packaging is aiding supply chains in the automotive industry by providing secure and eco-friendly methods to manage the flow of materials and information.
• In the Automotive sector, it is essential to have packaging solutions that deliver the ultimate protection for high-value goods and parts. From the engine to other small mechanical elements and decorative interior items, the production of a vehicle requires various components. India’s automobile and automotive parts market witnessed growth over the past few years. The auto component industry of India expanded by 10 % to reach a value of USD 56.52 billion in FY2019, according to India brand equity Foundation (IBEF).
• According to IBEF, the Indian automotive industry is the seventh-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles and is expected to reach USD 251.4 - 282.8 billion (including component manufacturing) by 2026. Between FY12-17, the automotive exports witnessed a 4.3% CAGR and are further estimated to register a 3.05% CAGR over the period 2016-2026.
• The Indian automotive sector was already witnessing a decline in 2020 before the outbreak COVID-19. It saw an overall reduction of almost 18%. This situation was worsened by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing lockdowns across India and the rest of the world. These two years (FY20 and FY21) are challenging times for the Indian automotive sector on account of slow economic growth, negative consumer sentiment, BS-VI transition, changes to the axle load norms, liquidity crunch, low capacity utilization and potential bankruptcies which could show a significant effect on Returnable Transport Packaging Market.

Food and Beverage is Expected to Occupy the Largest Market Share

• The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth-largest, with retail which contributes to about 70% of the sales. As per the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), between April - October 2018, exports of agricultural and processed food products was around USD 21.61 billion. Indian processed and agricultural foods are exported to more than a hundred countries, mainly to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, SAARC countries, the European Union, and the United States.
• According to the Indian Government, Amazon which is a global e-commerce giant is also planning to enter the Indian food retailing landscape by investing USD 515 million in the next few years, which is expected to boost the market forward. According to Oxford Economics, the Indian retail market is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 6% to reach USD 865 billion by 2023. The annual growth rate for the fast-moving consumer goods sector is predicted at 11% during the next ten years.
• Various companies in beverages, alcohol, and processed foods industries have started to explore alternative packaging solutions, including glass, to reduce the use of plastic due to concerns over plastic waste and possible bans by more state governments, following Maharashtra. These factors have fueled the adoption of RTP in the country at a smaller scale too.
• Changing consumer behavior, technological innovations, and government regulations have transformed the food and beverage industry in India in the past decade. Higher disposable income in families has resulted in more families dining out and exploring new cuisines. India’s Food & Beverages industry is evolving faster than ever, and global brands have entered the burgeoning market, which is expected to gross revenues of USD 540 billion by 2020 is expected to impact the returnable transport packaging in the region positively.

Competitive Landscape

The India returnable transport packaging (RTP) market is competitive owing to the presence of many small and large players in the country. The market appears to be moderately concentrated, with the significant players adopting strategies like partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. Some of the major players in the market include Signode Limited, Nefab AB, CHEP Logistics, and LEAP India.

• November 2019 - GEFCO signed an agreement with Airbus to support its transition to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly supply chain. GEFCO will gradually replace Airbus’ disposable packaging with reusable, foldable containers. This demonstrates both companies’ commitment to meeting the strictest environmental standards while boosting efficiency in the aviation sector.
• March 2020 - Nefab AB acquired Trio Emballage AB which is a producer of heavy-duty packaging solutions located in Staffanstorp, close to the southern part of Sweden. The acquisition is expected to both strengthen the company’s product offering as well as boost its presence across the global market.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

Companies Mentioned

Nefab AB
Signode Limited
Holisol Logistics
CHEP Logistics
Montara Logistics
Leap India
Leadec Group
FLEXOL Packaging (India) Limited
GEFCO India Private Limited
ORBIS Corporation

Please note: This publisher does offer titles that are created upon receipt of order. If you are purchasing a PDF Email Delivery option above, the report will take approximately 2 business days to prepare and deliver.