Netherlands: Plastic Container Market 2025

Plastic Container Market Size in the Netherlands

In 2021, the Dutch plastic container market increased by 128% to $X, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. In general, consumption saw resilient growth. As a result, consumption reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Plastic Container Production in the Netherlands

In value terms, plastic container production soared to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed resilient growth. As a result, production reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Plastic Container Exports

Exports from the Netherlands

In 2021, shipments abroad of plastic containers decreased by -3.7% to X tons for the first time since 2015, thus ending a five-year rising trend. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 16%. The exports peaked at X tons in 2020, and then reduced slightly in the following year.

In value terms, plastic container exports rose rapidly to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, total exports indicated a remarkable increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.9% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports increased by +79.3% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 21%. The exports peaked in 2021 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

Germany (X tons) was the main destination for plastic container exports from the Netherlands, accounting for a 29% share of total exports. Moreover, plastic container exports to Germany exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Belgium (X tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by the UK (X tons), with a 10% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to Germany stood at +2.5%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Belgium (-6.9% per year) and the UK (-0.5% per year).

In value terms, Germany ($X), the UK ($X) and Belgium ($X) constituted the largest markets for plastic container exported from the Netherlands worldwide, together accounting for 50% of total exports. France, the United States, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Spain, Norway and China lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 34%.

China, with a CAGR of +28.1%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the average plastic container export price amounted to $X per ton, surging by 14% against the previous year. Over the last nine-year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +4.2%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when the average export price increased by 23%. The export price peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was the UK ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to China ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the UK (+10.3%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Plastic Container Imports

Imports into the Netherlands

In 2021, purchases abroad of plastic containers was finally on the rise to reach X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year declining trend. In general, total imports indicated a remarkable increase from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.4% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when imports increased by 39% against the previous year. Imports peaked at X tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, plastic container imports soared to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, total imports indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +8.1% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 34%. Imports peaked in 2021 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2021, Germany (X tons) constituted the largest supplier of plastic container to the Netherlands, with a 33% share of total imports. Moreover, plastic container imports from Germany exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (X tons), twofold. Belgium (X tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with an 8.6% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual growth rate of volume from Germany stood at +1.8%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: China (+6.3% per year) and Belgium (+5.1% per year).

In value terms, Germany ($X), China ($X) and Belgium ($X) constituted the largest plastic container suppliers to the Netherlands, together accounting for 49% of total imports. These countries were followed by Italy, Vietnam, Switzerland, the UK, Poland, France, Israel and Denmark, which together accounted for a further 37%.

In terms of the main suppliers, Switzerland, with a CAGR of +26.3%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the average plastic container import price amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 19% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2021, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.6%. As a result, import price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was France ($X per ton), while the price for Denmark ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+8.5%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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