United Arab Emirates: Plastic Box Market 2025

Plastic Box Market Size in the United Arab Emirates

The plastic box market in the United Arab Emirates shrank sharply to $X in 2022, declining by -22.8% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. Plastic box consumption peaked at $X in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Plastic Box Exports

Exports from the United Arab Emirates

In 2022, approx. X tons of plastic boxes, cases, crates and similar packing articles were exported from the United Arab Emirates; which is down by -5.5% against 2021 figures. In general, exports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 25% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at X tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, plastic box exports shrank to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports, however, recorded a prominent expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when exports increased by 53% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

The United States (X tons), Tanzania (X tons) and Jordan (X tons) were the main destinations of plastic box exports from the United Arab Emirates, with a combined 57% share of total exports. Bahrain, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Egypt, the UK, France, Canada and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 28%.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Canada (with a CAGR of +206.4%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the United States ($X) emerged as the key foreign market for plastic boxes, cases, crates and similar packing articles exports from the United Arab Emirates, comprising 37% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Jordan ($X), with an 11% share of total exports. It was followed by Tanzania, with a 9.9% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value to the United States stood at +157.0%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Jordan (+50.3% per year) and Tanzania (+29.0% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average plastic box export price stood at $X per ton in 2022, which is down by -2.3% against the previous year. Overall, export price indicated a resilient increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, plastic box export price increased by +2.8% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when the average export price increased by 45%. The export price peaked at $X per ton in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major external markets. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Egypt ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Poland ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Mauritania (+12.7%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Plastic Box Imports

Imports into the United Arab Emirates

In 2022, the amount of plastic boxes, cases, crates and similar packing articles imported into the United Arab Emirates dropped to X tons, reducing by -14.1% against the year before. Over the period under review, imports saw a slight setback. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 when imports increased by 56% against the previous year. Imports peaked at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, plastic box imports contracted sharply to $X in 2022. Overall, total imports indicated a modest increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +27.8% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 56%. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at $X in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2022, China (X tons) constituted the largest supplier of plastic box to the United Arab Emirates, accounting for a 39% share of total imports. Moreover, plastic box imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, India (X tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Turkey (X tons), with an 11% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from China amounted to +2.6%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: India (-3.1% per year) and Turkey (+4.4% per year).

In value terms, China ($X) constituted the largest supplier of plastic boxes, cases, crates and similar packing articles to the United Arab Emirates, comprising 49% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by the UK ($X), with a 9.4% share of total imports. It was followed by India, with a 7.4% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value from China totaled +3.4%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the UK (+20.1% per year) and India (-1.8% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average plastic box import price amounted to $X per ton, waning by -4.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated a moderate increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.4% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, plastic box import price increased by +84.7% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when the average import price increased by 21% against the previous year. The import price peaked at $X per ton in 2021, and then declined modestly in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($X per ton), while the price for Slovakia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Bosnia and Herzegovina (+2.6%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :