Seafood Packaging Market Size - By Material, By Type, By Product, By Application, By Seafood, Analysis, Share, Growth Forecast, 2024 - 2032

Seafood Packaging Market Size

The global seafood packaging market was valued at USD 16.3 billion in 2023 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2032.
 

The seafood packaging market has evolved significantly due to the growing demand for fresh and high-quality fish products. With regard to the recent expansion of the fish industry, increasing emphasis is placed on packaging technologies that contribute to maintaining the quality of fish by extending the shelf life. Efficient packaging techniques for fish products are designed to maintain structural integrity, taste, texture, and nutrition. This has led to an increase in the demand from retailers and food suppliers to opt for better packaging solutions.

For instance, in December 2023, SÜDPACK launched its revolutionary Multifol Extreme packing film, which is specifically designed for seafood products. With the increased load applied, the flexible low puncture-resistant film is suitable for packaging fresh or frozen fish such as salmon fillets, white fish, and herring parts.
 

Seafood Packaging Market Trends

The seafood packaging industry has begun to feel the impact of technological advances and changes in consumer needs. These advances have led to expansion in the market, for instance, the variety of packaging such as resealable packaging and vacuum sealed bags is now in high demand due to the demand for controlled portions, ready to cook or ready to eat seafood products. In addition, on the Business-to-Business spectrum, the use of vacuum skin packaging is also becoming popular as it helps maintain the freshness of products while prolonging their shelf life. Innovative and intelligent packaging technologies such as oxygen absorption materials and intelligent labels are also becoming more popular as they help to improve the management of inventories, products, and the construction of consumer trust. The multi-layer packaging with high barrier films ensures minimal corrosion, allowing the longevity and quality of seafood over different channels.
 

Seafood Packaging Market Analysis

The advances in technology, such as smart packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), offer great prospects for the seafood industry. Controlled intelligent packaging can observe fish freshness, temperature and possible contamination that will collect data for consumers and suppliers. This is an opportunity for packaging companies as it improves the quality of the product, increases the sales period, and minimizes losses. However, one of the main challenges facing the industry is the sustainability of packaging materials. The trend towards more effective packaging of seafood increases the need to address the materials used in the packaging of seafood. The restrictions on single-use plastics and non-recyclable materials are increasing, although making it mandatory for a company to search for environmentally friendly packaging options.
 

Based on material, the market is segmented into plastics, paper, metal, and others. The plastic packaging segment is dominating the market with a market share of over 55% in 2023.
 

• The plastic segment in the seafood packaging market will continue to lead due to its efficiency and low cost and high durability.
   
• Plastic seafood packaging, such as flexible films, sheets, and vacuum bags, offer the best protection against moisture, oxygen, and pollutants of all kinds. A major factor in the effective and widespread use of plastic in industry is its ability to protect seafood from damage during transportation and storage.

Based on application, the market is divided into fresh and frozen and processed. The fresh and frozen segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 6.2% and is expected to reach over USD 15 billion by 2032.
 

• In the fresh and frozen seafood segment, the focus is on improving product conservation while satisfying the ease of use and environmentally friendly aspects of consumers. In fresh and frozen fish packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum sealed bags are in demand, as they are able to maintain the quality of fish products by preventing oxygen from reaching inside and thereby reducing levels of damage.
   
• These technologies are especially important for frozen seafood because high-proof films are applied to the products to ensure their highest quality and counteract the effects of freezer combustion and humidity loss. At the same time, fresh seafood is packaged in breathable films that allow air to pass but protect the product from damage.

North America dominated the industry with a market share of over 20% in 2023. The U.S. seafood packaging market has been experiencing steady growth as consumers have shown immense value for convenience and expect to find freshly packaged high-quality seafood. With a growing number of consumers looking ready to cook seafood, suitable packaging methods for bare products include MAP and vacuum sealing as they prolong the freshness of prepared products. In addition, globalization trends combined with greater concern for food quality and traceability have led to the development of intelligent packaging tools, such as QR codes, which allows to be more transparent with respect to source and freshness.
 

The seafood packaging market in Europe is growing due to the increased consumption of environmentally friendly seafood. As consumers become aware of what is good for the environment, there is growing pressure on packaging that would provide an environmentally friendly solution while ensuring the product's freshness. The region uses modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum skin packaging (VSP) as a means of ensuring the quality of seafood, while there is a regulatory push towards intelligent packaging designed to allow traceability and safety.
 

Germany's seafood packaging sector is developing as a result of consumer enthusiasm for fresh seafood. The inclination towards easy-to-use packaging continues to encourage manufacturers to use small-scale fish packaging, while innovations in vacuum and modified atmospheric packaging technologies are being developed to extend freshness.
 

The Indian seafood packaging market continues its impressive growth due to increasing domestic consumption and seafood exports. Indian customers now demand ready-to-eat lobster and crab meat, which is an additional factor to the growing middle class and spending capacity. This change increases the demand for packaging solutions capable of hygiene, freshness, and longer storage. The Indian seafood export industry also benefits from advances in MAP, vacuum sealing and controlled temperature packaging systems that meet global standards.
 

As the domestic consumption of seafood in China is increasing, the market for packaging these products is flourishing. An increase in the number of platforms offering ready-to-eat seafood means an increase in demand and supply for packages that improve the longevity of these products or make the seafood fresher for a longer period of time. Packaging technologies such as vacuum packaging, MAP and even certain forms of smart digital labelling are now necessary parts of packaging a variety of products that help to ensure that products are safe and high quality. This dynamic change supports the growth of both the seafood export packaging sector and the retail packaging sector.
 

Japan is experiencing an improvement in the seafood sector, due to high demand of product preservation and convenience. MAP technology is on the rise as is vacuum sealing. Japan is witnessing a new innovation that focuses on ensuring tamperproof methods that have tagging or tracking capabilities. Japan has legal requirements for compliance with food, with these requirements there is another requirement for fresh, high-quality, and safe seafood.
 

South Korea is in a growing phase as it changes its focus on packaging and ready-to-eat seafood. The focus is on using vacuum sealing and modified sealing to prolong the freshness of seafood packaging. Food safety and maintenance are becoming a priority, along the shifts towards intelligent packaging labels and traceable methods. In South Korea, there is a continuous demand to adhere to strict rules while prolonging shelf life with packaging.
 

Seafood Packaging Market Share

The seafood packaging industry is competitive, as companies try to distinguish themselves from others by using several strategies. Companies specializing in seafood packaging strive to offer innovative solutions such as modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), vacuum skin packaging (VSP), and active packaging that maintains the freshness of seafood for longer. The market is competitive, as companies try to distinguish themselves from others by using several strategies. Companies specializing in seafood packaging strive to offer new solutions such as modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), vacuum skin packaging (VSP), and active packaging that maintains the freshness of seafood for longer.
 

In addition, price competitiveness is also a factor because the enterprises need to find ways of being economical yet offering quality packaging. Distribution capacity is also a crucial factor since companies are trying to be good in supply chain management and ensure rapid delivery, especially with the increasing demand for fresh and frozen seafood. Compliance is also a factor in food safety requirements and product traceability as well as the integrity of the supply chain.
 

Seafood Packaging Market Companies

Major players operating in the seafood packaging industry are:

• Amcor
• Berry Global
• Disruptive Packaging
• DS Smith
• Genpack
• KM Packaging
• Nelipak Food Packaging
• O F Packaging
• Orora Packaging Australia
• Printpack
• ProAmpac
• Sealed Air
• Smurfit Kappa
• Sonoco Products
• StarBox
• Stora Enso
• Tri-pack Packaging Systems
• ULMA Packaging
• WestRock
   

Seafood Packaging Industry News

• In June 2024, IFCO launched the Marina, a digitally enabled reusable fish crate that enhances the seafood supply chain's efficiency and sustainability. This crate offers real time data collection for improving cold chain management.  
   
• In August 2024, Aptar Food Protection announced the expansion of its innovative SeaWell active packaging system into the e-commerce sector, aimed at enhancing the freshness and quality of seafood products during direct-to-consumer shipping.
   

This seafood packaging market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and volume (Kilo Tons) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:

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Market, By Material

• Plastic
• Paper
• Metal
• Others

Market, By Type

• Vacuum packaging
• Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)
• Others

Market, By Product

• Trays
• Bags and pouches
• Cans
• Boxes
• Shrink films
• Others

Market, By Application

• Fresh and frozen
• Processed

Market, By Seafood

• Fish
• Molluscs
• Crustaceans
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa