Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2025-2034)

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Overview

The food and beverage industry is the largest consumer of flexible packaging in Mexico. In 2023, the industry continued to be the crucial buyer of packaging machinery, representing about 50% of the country's total demand.

In the personal care and cosmetics sector, flexible packaging helps protect ingredients from degradation, separation, or loss of effectiveness over time. In 2022, Mexico was the 2nd largest cosmetics and personal care market in Latin America with the presence of cosmetics brands such as Loreal S.A. and Procter & Gamble. 

Flexible packaging presents an ideal option for the online sale and at-home delivery of product categories such as cosmetics, snacks, and pet food. Local online shopping events such as Hot Sale and El Buen Fin generate demand for flexible packaging for deliveries. In 2024, Mexico was the 10th largest e-commerce market globally with an 18% y-o-y growth.

Consumers growing demand for packaged foods and beverages provides opportunities for Mexico flexible packaging market growth.

In 2023, Mexican consumers spent 34.6% of their income on foods, beverages, and tobacco, with the three main categories consisting of meat, grains, and food preparations. 

Prominent food and beverages manufacturers in Mexico include Coca Cola Femsa, S.A.B. de C.V., Sigma Alimentos, S.A. de C.V., and Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V.

Figure: Mexico Food Production Industry, Share (%) by GDP Value, 2023

In 2023, Mexico was the 15th-largest market for pharmaceuticals in the world and the second largest in Latin America. Mexico produces pharmaceuticals in over 400 laboratories, primarily in the Mexico City metropolitan region and the states of Puebla, Morelos, Jalisco, and Mexico.

In 2023, Mexico exported 165 of the 350 pharmaceutical and API products designated as critical by the International Trade Administration to the United States. The total value of these exports surpassed USD 2.5 billion.

Figure: Annual Contribution to GDP (in USD Million) of Pharmaceutical Production in Mexico, 2018-2022

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Growth

Flexible packaging weighs a fraction of rigid plastic, metal or glass containers. As a result, it reduces transportation costs due to its lighter weight and smaller volume. Flexible packaging occupies 40% less space than metal cans which helps optimise warehouse space and storage and also produces 1/10th the amount of CO2 than metal cans.

Companies are leveraging digital and flexography printing for shorter print runs and personalised packaging to enhance consumer engagement. Companies in Mexico flexible packaging market offering such services include Impressa, and Flexo Cristal de México.

Recycling of flexible packaging aims to develop circular solutions for addressing the challenges of flexible plastic waste. Circularity in post-consumer flexible plastic packaging, such as chip bags, plastic pouches, and baby food packs, is difficult due to their complex composition. Valuing this waste encourages its return and reintegration into the circular economy.

Companies are integrating technologies such as blockchain, photos, videos, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) that collect key data, such as the origins and amounts of the processed material. Companies deliver a certification for the neutralised waste and proof of origin and circularity for the output materials incorporated back into the economy.

Key Trends and Developments

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Trends

A significant percentage of food products in Mexico uses flexible packaging. Companies involved in food processing and agribusiness in Mexico include Tyson, Bachoco, Driscolls, and Sunny Ridge. These companies are demanding better and greener packaging materials. In most cases, flexible packaging is designed to help extend the shelf life of food products or to comply with other marketing trends, such as higher quality graphics. Innovations in this area include high-barrier films that protect against moisture and oxygen, making them ideal for food processing and pharmaceuticals. 

There is a growing demand for biodegradable, recyclable, and eco-friendly packaging in Mexico. Producers are increasingly working to meet this demand and gain a competitive edge in the Mexico flexible packaging market. In December 2024, Bioflex, a flexible packaging company in central Mexico became the first company to purchase the Reifenhäuser Group's environment-friendly Evo Fusion extrusion technology in the Americas. Through this technology, Bioflex is integrating postindustrial and postconsumer recycled materials into products.    

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Opportunities

Flexible packaging preserves the efficacy of capsules, tablets, and other drugs by protecting them from oxygen and moisture. Common forms include blister packs, IV bags, and barrier pouches for pre-filled syringes. It offers key benefits for the medical and pharmaceutical industries, including extended shelf life, energy efficiency in manufacturing, reduced shipping costs, and lower environmental impact. 

In 2022, Mexico was the second-largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America and ranked among the top 15 globally. Further, as a crucial producer of medicines, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and cancer treatments, Mexico is expected to top USD 13 billion in pharmaceutical sales by 2028, aiding the Mexico flexible packaging market development.

Flexible packaging, especially pouches, is ideal for online sales and home delivery across various product categories. It reduces shipping costs due to its lightweight nature, ensures product integrity during transit owing to their unbreakable nature, and optimises logistics by enabling more efficient packing in warehouses. Mexico’s ecommerce market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% from 2024 to 2027, reaching a value of USD 184 billion by the end of that period.

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Restraints

Some of the common raw materials deployed by flexible packaging companies include paper, plastic, resins, films, paperboard, and adhesives. These raw materials are purchased from a variety of sources. As a result, a shortage of raw materials driven by supply chain disruption can lead to increased raw material price volatility. Increases in the price of raw materials are generally passed on to customers which can impact the Mexico flexible packaging market expansion. 

While flexibility offers several advantages, it can also present challenges, particularly for products that require protection from external pressure, such as glass. Due to its pliable nature, flexible packaging may lose its shape and is vulnerable to punctures from sharp objects. In contrast, rigid containers provide superior protection, as their structure offers added support and safeguarding for the contents. 

Mexico Flexible Packaging Industry Segmentation

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Share

Market Analysis by Plastic Materials

LLDPE is extensively adopted in the packaging sector for its superior strength and stability. LLDPE is used in stretch film, pouches, and other food packaging products. 

As per the Mexico flexible packaging market analysis, the rising consumption of packaged food products is increasing the demand for LLDPE. In 2023 the total retail sales of packaged food products in Mexico was recorded at USD 96.1 billion. 

LDPE heat shrink film is produced in a multi-layer system thereby increasing its tear strength and puncture resistance. The production of LDPE is carried out using components intended for close contact with food, increasing its adoption in the food and beverage sector. 

Metallised BOPP films are commonly used in the flexible packaging of snacks, candies, pharmaceuticals, and toiletries, offering enhanced shelf life and effective protection against moisture and oxygen.

BOPP films are considered cost-effective, making them a preferred choice for manufacturers seeking to balance quality and affordability.

Market Analysis by Product Type

Strong demand for printed roll stock in the country:

The high efficiency and speed of roll stock make roll stock ideal for high-volume production runs. Hence it is being adopted in pharmaceuticals, pet care and food and beverages. 

In October 2023, PAC Worldwide, a customised and contract packaging solutions provider, expanded into Central America with the opening of a new full-service flexible packaging facility in Mexico. The 83,000ft² factory located in Vistha San Juan del Rio will produce roll film, security bags, and pouches and other poly products.

Wide application of pouches in snacks, beverages, personal care products, and household items.:

The Mexico flexible packaging market report states that pouches are ideal for smaller production runs and are often the preferred choice for products with distinctive shapes or sizes. They offer strong shelf appeal, providing ample space for branding and product information. 

In 2023, Mexico had the presence of 60,000 bakeries, creating a strong need for packaging products, such as pouches.

Market Analysis by Application

Flexible packaging is considered a great option to provide optimum food purity and protection from contamination. The multi layers in flexible packaging prevent oxygen infiltration, increasing the shelf life of products. 

As per 2023 records, Mexico was the tenth largest producer in the food sector globally, representing a strong demand for flexible packaging, thereby supporting the Mexico flexible packaging market development.

Flexible packaging offers excellent barrier properties safeguarding cosmetic products from moisture, oxygen, light. Mexico is a key manufacturer of personal care and cosmetics products in Latin America with the presence of several companies such as Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Natura&Co, and Avon Cosmetics. 

Market Analysis by Key Consumers

The presence of a significant number of multinational manufacturing companies in Mexico and recycling initiatives supporting the Mexico flexible packaging market growth:

Large buyers or big brands demand high-volume and high-quality packaging solutions. Mexico has the presence of a significant number of multinational food and beverage companies including Nestle, Pepsico, Danone Group, General Mills, and Unilever, among others representing a strong need for flexible packaging. 

In September 2021, Nestlé Mexico has signed an agreement with Greenback Recycling Technologies and Enval to build a chemical recycling plant in Mexico aimed at processing flexible plastic packaging. The plant is expected to handle 6,000 metric tons of scrap in its first full year, with potential for expansion in the future.

The thriving small-scale manufacturers in Mexico creating a demand for flexible packaging:

Small-scale consumers are required with cost-effective flexible packaging solutions. Mexico has a prominent local manufacturing sector that necessitates flexible packaging solutions. According to the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units, in 2022, the state of Guanajuato in Mexico had a total of 269,337 micro and small businesses.

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If you choose to purchase the full report at a later stage, the amount already paid will be adjusted, and you will only need to pay the remaining balance.

Mexico Flexible Packaging Market Regional Insights

In recent years, the Bajío region has emerged as the second most significant economic hub in Mexico, following Mexico City. Approximately 90% of Asian companies that have entered the Mexican market over the past decade have established operations in the Bajío area.

Coahuila and Nuevo León studied in the Mexico flexible packaging market are the leading exporters of food, beverages, and tobacco in Mexico. Meanwhile, Mexico City and its surrounding regions host a diverse array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food processing, textiles, and consumer goods manufacturing.

Competitive Landscape

Other key players in the Mexico flexible packaging market are Constantia Aluprint Mexico, Altopro S. de R.L. de C.V., Transcontinental Inc., Amcor Plc, and Zubex, among others.