Rigid Intermediate Bulk Containers (RIBC)

Global Market Outlook on Rigid Intermediate Bulk Containers (RIBC)

• The global market for RIBCs was valued at $17.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at the rate of 5–6 percent until 2027. RIBCs contribute to approximately 13 percent of the global bulk packaging demand. The overall demand is expected to continue to increase, owing to a market recovery in key downstream segments, such as industrial and agro-chemicals, construction, and growing demand from the pharma sector.

Demand Market Outlook –RIBC

• Chemicals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, and pharmaceutical industries are the major end-use segments, driving the demand for industrial RIBCs. The APAC and LATAM are witnessing the highest growth rates of around 4–5 percent and 5–6 percent, respectively. Increased safety measures are taken across the regions for transportation of product through rigid containers.

Global Market Outlook –Rigid Bulk Packaging 

Market Growth and Drivers

• The global bulk packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5–6 percent from 2023 to reach $21.8 billion in 2027. The market is expected to foster growth, mainly due to the increasing demand from chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and crop science industries, which rely on rigid bulk containers for packaging their products. The impact of COVID will be nil on the RIBC industry

Rigid Bulk Packaging Types

• IBCs are one of the predominantly used packaging types in rigid bulk packaging, due to their high storage capacity

• Other packaging formats, such as drums, bulk boxes, and material handling containers are also expected to foster growth, due to the advantages it offers over other packaging types, such as storage and handling efficiency, greater reusability, and emphasis on sustainability, and closed-loop supply chains

Global Demand Analysis – RIBC

• The RIBC market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5–6 percent to reach $21.8 billion in 2027. The market is likely to foster the growth, due to increasing demand from major end-users, like chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceuticals

• Globally, the IBC industry has an average utilization rate of 65 percent, and the manufacturers are able to meet the demand without any supply constraints

Global Market Demand (2023–2027F)

• The RIBCs market is expected to grow fast, due to the resurgence of chemical production. Chemicals accounted for more than 65 percent of the RIBCs demand, globally. The upswing in the production of durable goods is another growth driver of RIBCs

• RIBCs contribute to 12 percent of rigid bulk packaging demand and would experience strong growth in the next five years, owing to their long-term cost and performance advantages. The regulations for the transportation of hazardous goods, ensure high demand for RIBCs

• The market is matured in the developed regions of North America and Europe. However, APAC might experience high growth for IBCs, owing to high-capacity additions from pharmaceuticals and chemicals

Global Demand by Application : RIBC

There has been consistent supply of RIBCs meeting the demand from major end-users, such as chemicals, food & beverage, petroleum, and hazardous waste. Chemicals contribute to 67 percent of the RIBCs demand, which may be shifted to pharmaceuticals and food industry

Downstream Demand Outlook

• Chemicals occupy majority of RIBC demand. This increase is due to the resurgence of production in many regions, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3–4 percent during 2023–2027

• Food & Beverage

–The rise of RIBCs in this market will be aided by increased growth in food production and efficiency advantages over lower capacity containers.

–Dry and granular food packaging will be replaced by FIBCs, while frozen fruits and vegetables, liquid food ingredients like purees, concentrates, syrups, vegetable oils, and honey would be packaged in RIBCs (collapsible plastic walls).

• Hazardous Waste: Stringent regulations from UN and DOT in the transportation of dangerous goods necessitate the need for RIBCs

• Petroleum and Lubricants: This industry uses large quantity bulk containers. The need for cost and space effectiveness plays a vital role in determining the type of packaging