South Korea Industrial Packaging Market

South Korea Industrial Packaging Market Overview:

The South Korea industrial packaging market size reached USD 1,219.7 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,612.5 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.15% during 2025-2033. Rising exports, e-commerce growth, electronics manufacturing, and demand for eco-friendly materials are some of the factors contributing to South Korea industrial packaging market share. Strong logistics, tech adoption, and government sustainability targets also drive investments in innovative, lightweight, and recyclable packaging solutions to meet global supply chain needs.

South Korea Industrial Packaging Market Trends:

Push for Sustainable Industrial Packaging

South Korea’s industrial packaging sector shows stronger moves toward sustainability, backed by government support and collaboration among industry groups, research institutes, and eco-friendly alliances. Recent large-scale exhibitions have spotlighted biodegradable materials, recyclable solutions, and smart technology to reduce environmental impact. More manufacturers are adopting cleaner production methods and switching to materials that align with global environmental standards. This push is creating business opportunities for local suppliers offering green alternatives and encouraging partnerships between technology developers and packaging producers. With official backing and active industry participation, the sector is shifting fast toward meeting stricter ESG goals. Producers and suppliers focusing on circular economy models are gaining attention, setting new directions for packaging development and manufacturing. These factors are intensifying the South Korea industrial packaging market growth. For example, in April 2025, the 2025 ESG Sustainable Packaging Fair took place over four days from April 22 (Tuesday) to April 25 (Friday) at the KINTEX 1st Exhibition Hall in Goyang, South Korea. The event was organized by the Packaging Industry (Monthly Packaging) and Kyungyon Exhibition Corp, with backing from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Packaging Technology Center, the Korean Society of Packaging, the Green Plastic Alliance, and the Korea Eco-Friendly Packaging Forum Committee.

Paper-Based Refills Gaining Ground

In South Korea, reusable paper-based refill packs are gaining ground in the industrial packaging space as companies look to reduce single-use plastic. Personal care items like shampoos and body soaps are among the first to adopt this shift, with local production lines now set up to handle these paper solutions at scale. The use of dedicated filling machines helps keep supply chains efficient while supporting eco-friendly goals. More product lines are expected to follow as this model expands beyond personal care into wider industrial uses. With brands tapping into the push for sustainable options, paper refills are emerging as a practical choice for cutting waste and winning over consumers who value convenience without added plastic. For instance, in October 2024, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. expanded its SPOPS industrial packaging business into South Korea through a deal with NOTRAC Inc. Shampoos and body soaps using SPOPS were launched under UCL Co., Ltd.’s “ECOJE” brand in 2024, with more products planned. SPOPS uses paper-based refill packs to cut plastic waste and improve convenience. A dedicated filling machine at UCL secured local production as SPOPS targeted global industrial packaging markets.

South Korea Industrial Packaging Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on product, material, and application.

Product Insights:

• Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
• Sacks
• Drums
• Pails
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product. This includes intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), sacks, drums, pails, and others.

Material Insights:

• Paperboard
• Plastic
• Metal
• Wood
• Fiber

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the material have also been provided in the report. This includes paperboard, plastic, metal, wood, and fiber.

Application Insights:

• Chemical and Pharmaceutical
• Building and Construction
• Food and Beverage
• Oil and Lubricant
• Agriculture and Horticulture
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application. This includes chemical and pharmaceutical, building and construction, food and beverage, oil and lubricant, agriculture and horticulture, and others.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Industrial Packaging Market News:

• In June 2025, ProPak Asia 2025, Asia’s key processing and packaging trade show, ran from 11–14 June at BITEC Bangkok. Organized by Informa Markets – Thailand, it gathered global industry players and featured over 2,000 brands. South Korea joined ten other national pavilions to present new eco-friendly industrial packaging technologies, helping connect Korean suppliers and manufacturers with partners worldwide and spotlighting the country’s packaging sector on an international stage.

South Korea Industrial Packaging Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea industrial packaging market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea industrial packaging market on the basis of product?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea industrial packaging market on the basis of material?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea industrial packaging market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea industrial packaging market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea industrial packaging market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea industrial packaging market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea industrial packaging market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea industrial packaging market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea industrial packaging market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea industrial packaging market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea industrial packaging industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.