While it generated a staggering KRW 28.5 trillion in 2022, the South Korean packaging industry is a dynamic economic engine far exceeding simple numbers, driven by relentless innovation, export strength, and a monumental shift toward sustainability that is reshaping its future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the South Korean packaging market was valued at approximately KRW 28.5 trillion (USD 22.1 billion)
- The packaging industry in South Korea is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2028, reaching USD 27.8 billion by 2028
- Paper and cardboard packaging accounted for 42% of the South Korean packaging market revenue in 2023
- South Korea produced 1.28 million tons of plastic packaging in 2022
- Corrugated cardboard production capacity in Korea reached 8.5 million tons annually in 2023
- Annual production of PET bottles in South Korea was 650,000 tons in 2022
- South Korea exported packaging materials worth USD 4.2 billion in 2022
- Packaging imports to Korea totaled USD 3.8 billion in 2023
- Corrugated packaging exports from Korea: USD 1.1 billion in 2022
- Paper packaging holds 35% of total packaging material usage in Korea 2022
- Plastics constitute 38% of packaging materials consumed in South Korea 2023
- Glass usage in packaging 8% of total volume 12 million tons in 2022
- South Korea's packaging waste recycling rate reached 82% in 2022
- Plastic packaging recycling rate 58% in Korea 2023, up from 52% in 2021
- Paper packaging recyclability 95% with 75% actual recycled content 2022
South Korea's packaging industry is experiencing steady growth driven by sustainability trends and e-commerce.
Export and Import
- South Korea exported packaging materials worth USD 4.2 billion in 2022
- Packaging imports to Korea totaled USD 3.8 billion in 2023
- Corrugated packaging exports from Korea: USD 1.1 billion in 2022
- Plastic packaging exports grew 8.5% to USD 2.3 billion in 2023
- Top export destination for Korean packaging: USA with USD 850 million in 2022
- Imports of paper packaging materials: KRW 2.1 trillion in 2022
- Flexible packaging exports to China USD 650 million in 2023
- Trade surplus in packaging industry USD 450 million in 2022 Korea
- PET preform exports 120,000 tons valued USD 280 million in 2022
- Glass packaging imports from Japan USD 150 million in 2023
- Metal packaging exports to Vietnam USD 200 million in 2022
- Packaging machinery exports USD 1.2 billion in 2023
- Imports of aluminum foil for packaging 45,000 tons in 2022
- Top import source for plastics packaging: China 55% share USD 1.5 billion 2023
- Export growth rate of paper packaging 7.2% YoY in 2023
- Total packaging trade volume KRW 10.5 trillion in 2022
- Rigid plastic exports to EU USD 180 million in 2023
- Imports of flexible films USD 900 million in 2022 Korea
- Packaging export destinations: Asia 68%, Americas 15% in 2023
- Steel packaging imports declined 3% to USD 120 million in 2023
- E-commerce packaging exports surged 22% to USD 300 million in 2022
- Trade balance for glass packaging positive USD 50 million 2023
- Packaging materials import tariff average 4.2% in Korea 2022
- Exports to ASEAN countries USD 750 million packaging in 2023
- Plastic recycling materials imports 80,000 tons USD 150 million 2022
- Year-on-year export increase 9.1% for all packaging categories 2023
- Imports from USA packaging USD 250 million in 2022
- South Korea plastic packaging export volume 1.05 million tons in 2023
Export and Import Interpretation
Korea's packaging industry has deftly wrapped up a tidy trade surplus, proving that while they import billions in materials, they expertly box up and export even more value, particularly in plastic and to America, making them global masters of both containment and commerce.
Market Size and Growth
- In 2022, the South Korean packaging market was valued at approximately KRW 28.5 trillion (USD 22.1 billion)
- The packaging industry in South Korea is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2028, reaching USD 27.8 billion by 2028
- Paper and cardboard packaging accounted for 42% of the South Korean packaging market revenue in 2023
- Plastic packaging segment in South Korea generated USD 8.2 billion in revenue in 2023
- South Korea's flexible packaging market size reached KRW 5.1 trillion in 2022
- Rigid plastic packaging in Korea saw a market value of USD 3.4 billion in 2021, growing 5% YoY
- The overall packaging market in South Korea expanded by 3.8% in 2022 compared to 2021
- Food packaging sub-sector contributed 55% to total packaging market revenue in Korea in 2023
- Beverage packaging market in South Korea valued at KRW 4.2 trillion in 2022
- Pharmaceutical packaging market in Korea grew to USD 1.8 billion in 2023, CAGR 6.1%
- E-commerce packaging demand drove 12% growth in flexible packaging in Korea in 2022
- South Korea's packaging industry GDP contribution was 1.2% in 2022
- Corrugated box market in Korea reached 2.5 million tons production value equivalent to KRW 6 trillion in 2022
- Metal packaging segment valued at USD 2.1 billion in South Korea 2023
- Glass packaging market in Korea was KRW 1.8 trillion in 2022
- Sustainable packaging market projected to grow at 7.5% CAGR to 2030 in Korea
- Total packaging consumption per capita in South Korea was 65 kg in 2022
- Packaging R&D investment by Korean firms reached KRW 1.2 trillion in 2023
- Smart packaging market in Korea valued at USD 450 million in 2023
- Industrial packaging segment grew 4.5% to KRW 3.7 trillion in 2022
- Cosmetics packaging market in South Korea hit USD 1.5 billion in 2023
- South Korea packaging market share of Asia-Pacific was 5.2% in 2022
- Post-COVID recovery boosted packaging sales by 6.3% in Korea 2022
- Online retail packaging demand increased 18% YoY in Korea 2023
- Total market volume for packaging in Korea was 12.5 million tons in 2022
- Forecasted packaging market revenue USD 25.6 billion by 2027 in South Korea
- Household packaging consumption rose 3.2% to KRW 9.8 trillion in 2022
- Packaging for electronics sector valued at USD 2.3 billion in 2023
- Growth rate of aseptic packaging market 5.8% CAGR to 2028 in Korea
- Total industry revenue KRW 32.1 trillion projected for 2025
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
South Korea's packaging market, a robust KRW 28.5 trillion behemoth where nearly half the wrapping is still endearingly old-school paper, is being vigorously reshaped by an insatiable appetite for online shopping, a relentless demand for food and beverage containers, and a conscientious, if plastic-heavy, march toward sustainability.
Material and Type Breakdown
- Paper packaging holds 35% of total packaging material usage in Korea 2022
- Plastics constitute 38% of packaging materials consumed in South Korea 2023
- Glass usage in packaging 8% of total volume 12 million tons in 2022
- Metal materials account for 12% in Korean packaging industry 2023
- PET plastic share in beverage packaging 72% in Korea 2022
- Corrugated board usage 4.8 million tons for shipping packaging 2023
- PP materials used 450,000 tons in flexible packaging 2022
- Aluminum in food cans 180,000 tons consumption Korea 2023
- LDPE film usage 320,000 tons for retail packaging 2022
- Recycled PET content in bottles averaged 25% in Korea 2023
- Paper-based flexible packaging share 28% in total flexibles 2022
- Steel for packaging 280,000 tons used annually 2023
- BOPET film consumption 85,000 tons for labels and laminates 2022
- Tin-free steel usage 90,000 tons in cans Korea 2023
- Biodegradable plastics usage 15,000 tons in packaging 2022
- Carton board for cosmetics 120,000 tons consumption 2023
- HDPE for containers 380,000 tons used in Korea 2022
- Multi-layer films PE/PA usage 200,000 tons 2023
- Glass for pharmaceuticals 45,000 tons in Korea 2022
- Woven polypropylene sacks 220,000 tons for industrial 2023
- Foil-laminated paper 110,000 tons in food packaging 2022
- PS foam trays usage declined to 50,000 tons 2023 due to regulations
- PVC for blister packs 25,000 tons consumption Korea 2022
- Kraft paper for bags 1.2 million tons 2023
- EVOH barrier resins 12,000 tons used in high-barrier packs 2022
- 65% of food packaging in Korea uses plastic materials in 2023
- Compostable materials share increased to 3.5% in packaging 2022
Material and Type Breakdown Interpretation
Korea's packaging scene is a high-stakes tug-of-war where plastics cling to a dominant but embattled lead, while paper mounts a noble comeback and new sustainable players elbow their way into the ring, all under the watchful eye of increasingly strict regulations.
Production and Capacity
- South Korea produced 1.28 million tons of plastic packaging in 2022
- Corrugated cardboard production capacity in Korea reached 8.5 million tons annually in 2023
- Annual production of PET bottles in South Korea was 650,000 tons in 2022
- Glass container production totaled 1.2 million tons in Korea 2022
- Flexible packaging film production volume 1.1 million tons in 2023
- Metal can production in South Korea hit 2.3 billion units in 2022
- Paper packaging production grew 4.1% to 5.2 million tons in 2022
- Injection molded plastic packaging output 850,000 tons in Korea 2023
- Number of packaging manufacturers in South Korea: 4,500 in 2023
- Capacity utilization rate in Korean packaging plants averaged 78% in 2022
- Aluminum foil production for packaging 120,000 tons annually in Korea
- Blow-molded container production 420,000 tons in 2022 South Korea
- Total plastic resin for packaging production 3.1 million tons in 2023
- Carton board production capacity 1.8 million tons per year in Korea
- Steel packaging production volume 450,000 tons in 2022
- Number of packaging production facilities: 2,100 large-scale plants in 2023
- PP woven sack production 250,000 tons in South Korea 2022
- LDPE film production for packaging 380,000 tons annually
- Aseptic carton production 180 million packs in 2023 Korea
- Total packaging machinery production value KRW 1.5 trillion in 2022
- BOPET film output 95,000 tons for packaging in 2023
- Number of employees in packaging production: 180,000 in 2022
- Extrusion coating production 150,000 tons in Korea 2022
- Tinplate production for cans 320,000 tons annually
- Recycled paper packaging production 2.1 million tons in 2023
- Thermoforming packaging trays output 200,000 tons in 2022
- Total production value of flexible packaging KRW 7.2 trillion in 2023
- Packaging production index rose 5.2% in 2023 vs 2022
Production and Capacity Interpretation
South Korea's packaging sector is a masterclass in coordinated plenty, wrapping everything from tomorrow's lunch to next year's electronics in a mountain of materials so vast that you'd think the entire nation was prepping for a very stylish, very long-lasting apocalypse.
Sustainability and Innovation
- South Korea's packaging waste recycling rate reached 82% in 2022
- Plastic packaging recycling rate 58% in Korea 2023, up from 52% in 2021
- Paper packaging recyclability 95% with 75% actual recycled content 2022
- Government target: 70% plastic packaging recycling by 2030 in Korea
- Biodegradable packaging adoption rate 4.2% in food sector 2023
- CO2 emissions from packaging production reduced 15% since 2018 in Korea
- 1,200 companies certified for eco-friendly packaging in 2023 Korea
- Single-use plastic ban affected 25% of packaging types since 2021
- R&D spending on sustainable packaging KRW 800 billion in 2022
- Active packaging technologies implemented in 15% of meat products 2023
- Water usage in packaging production down 20% to 1.2 billion m3 in 2022
- Nano-technology in barrier films used by 30 firms in Korea 2023
- EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) covers 90% of packaging waste 2022
- Intelligent packaging sensors market growth 12% CAGR to 2028 Korea
- 40% reduction in virgin plastic use targeted by 2030 major firms
- Compostable pouch usage up 35% in cosmetics 2023
- Energy-efficient packaging lines adopted by 65% of large plants 2022
- Blockchain traceability in supply chain for 10% sustainable packs 2023
- Mycelium-based packaging trials by 5 Korean startups in 2023
- Plastic tax introduced on non-recyclable packs KRW 10/kg 2022
- 75% of beverage companies using rPET >30% content 2023
- Zero-waste packaging initiatives by 200 firms in Korea 2022
- AI-optimized material usage reduced waste 18% in pilots 2023
- Marine plastic from packaging reduced 22% via cleanup 2022
- Edible films R&D funded KRW 50 billion government 2023
- 55% consumer preference for eco-packaging in surveys 2023 Korea
- Carbon-neutral packaging certified 150 products 2022
- Microplastic reduction in washes from packs 12% lower 2023
- Circular economy model adopted by packaging association 2023
- Plant-based inks usage 60% in labels 2022 Korea
- Waste-to-packaging conversion rate 28% for plastics 2023
- Innovation patents in packaging filed 1,250 in 2022 Korea
Sustainability and Innovation Interpretation
Korea’s packaging sector is a high-wire act of impressive recycling acrobatics, urgent plastic targets, and clever innovations—yet still wrestles with the stubborn cling wrap of reality, where biodegradable options barely get a seat at the table and virgin plastic’s final bow is still a distant encore.
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