United Kingdom - Plastic Sacks And Bags - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
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View PricingNovember 2023 Sees An 8% Decrease in UK's Imports of Bags Made of Plastic, Totaling $82 Million
United Kingdom Plastic Bag Imports
In November 2023, overseas purchases of plastic sacks and bags decreased by -7.9% to 29K tons for the first time since July 2023, thus ending a three-month rising trend. Over the period under review, imports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in January 2023 when imports increased by 36% m-o-m. As a result, imports reached the peak of 37K tons. From February 2023 to November 2023, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.
In value terms, plastic bag imports fell to $82M (IndexBox estimates) in November 2023. Overall, imports showed a pronounced reduction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in May 2023 when imports increased by 14% month-to-month.
| COUNTRY | Import Value of Plastic Bag in United Kingdom (million USD) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2022 | Dec 2022 | Jan 2023 | Feb 2023 | Mar 2023 | Apr 2023 | May 2023 | Jun 2023 | Jul 2023 | Aug 2023 | Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | Nov 2023 | |
| China | 16.5 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 9.7 | 12.0 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 13.6 | 13.4 | 15.4 | 17.5 | 12.7 |
| Turkey | 13.0 | 13.2 | 14.5 | 10.9 | 10.1 | 9.1 | 12.8 | 12.4 | 10.4 | 13.4 | 11.2 | 12.6 | 12.2 |
| Germany | 14.4 | 14.2 | 10.6 | 11.5 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 13.2 | 13.6 | 11.0 | 9.1 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 10.7 |
| Poland | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 7.7 |
| Vietnam | 11.9 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 8.3 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| Thailand | 5.1 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
| Ireland | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Others | 38.3 | 29.2 | 28.2 | 29.8 | 34.7 | 29.2 | 36.8 | 34.2 | 29.6 | 30.0 | 27.4 | 31.5 | 28.9 |
| Total | 106 | 87.3 | 85.8 | 80.6 | 86.2 | 82.2 | 93.4 | 87.2 | 81.4 | 82.2 | 81.0 | 89.1 | 82.0 |
Imports by Country
Turkey (6.1K tons), China (4.3K tons) and Germany (3.6K tons) were the main suppliers of plastic bag imports to the UK, with a combined 49% share of total imports. These countries were followed by Vietnam, Poland, Thailand and Ireland, which together accounted for a further 23%.
From November 2022 to November 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by Ireland (with a CAGR of +1.6%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, China ($13M), Turkey ($12M) and Germany ($11M) were the largest plastic bag suppliers to the UK, together comprising 43% of total imports. Poland, Vietnam, Thailand and Ireland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 21%.
Among the main suppliers, Poland, with a CAGR of +2.3%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced a decline.
Imports by Type
In November 2023, sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene (24K tons) constituted the largest type of plastic bag supplied to the UK, accounting for a 84% share of total imports. Moreover, sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, plastics (4.5K tons), fivefold.
From November 2022 to November 2023, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of import of sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene was relatively modest.
In value terms, sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene ($59M) constituted the largest type of plastic bag supplied to the UK, comprising 72% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by plastics ($23M), with a 28% share of total imports.
Import Prices by Country
In November 2023, the plastic bag price amounted to $2,845 per ton (CIF, United Kingdom), remaining stable against the previous month. Overall, the import price showed a slight curtailment. The growth pace was the most rapid in February 2023 when the average import price increased by 33% against the previous month. The import price peaked at $3,402 per ton in November 2022; however, from December 2022 to November 2023, import prices failed to regain momentum.
Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin: the country with the highest price was Spain ($5,228 per ton), while the price for Indonesia ($1,528 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From November 2022 to November 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+1.6%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced mixed trend patterns.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the plastic bag market in the UK. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.
Product coverage:
- Prodcom 22221100 - Sacks and bags of polymers of ethylene (including cones)
- Prodcom 22221200 - Plastic sacks and bags (including cones) (excluding of polymers of ethylene)
Country coverage:
- United Kingdom
Data coverage:
- Market volume and value
- Per Capita consumption
- Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
- Trade (exports and imports) in the UK
- Export and import prices
- Market trends, drivers and restraints
- Key market players and their profiles
Reasons to buy this report:
- Take advantage of the latest data
- Find deeper insights into current market developments
- Discover vital success factors affecting the market
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.
In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:
- How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
- How to load your idle production capacity
- How to boost your sales on overseas markets
- How to increase your profit margins
- How to make your supply chain more sustainable
- How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
- How to outsource production to other countries
- How to prepare your business for global expansion
While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
