China Packaging Trade Hits US$65.68B in 2021: Plastic Packaging Takes 65.66% of Export Value

I. Trade Overview

Packaging can be described as containers, materials and ancillary items used in distribution to protect goods, ease warehousing and transport, and support sales, based on specific technical methods. In 2021, China's packaging industry posted US$65.68 billion in total imports and exports, up 24.31% year on year.

Chart: China packaging import and export value and year-on-year growth, 2019–2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

During the same year, exports reached US$49.076 billion, up 27.33%, while imports totaled US$16.604 billion, up 16.15%. The sector therefore retained a substantial trade surplus.

Chart: China packaging import and export value, 2019–2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

Related report: Zhiyan Consulting's

Survey of the Development Status and Market Analysis and Forecast Report for China's Packaging Industry, 2023–2029

II. Export Performance

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry exported US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. Plastic packaging took 65.66% of export value; paper packaging, 17.66%; metal packaging, 5.9%; glass packaging, 5.18%; packaging machinery and other, 4.59%; and bamboo and wood packaging, 1.02%.

Chart: China packaging export mix by segment, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

In value terms, plastic packaging exports reached US$32.222 billion, up 42.33% year on year; paper packaging was US$8.669 billion, up 31.09%; metal packaging was US$2.895 billion, up 42.33%; glass packaging was US$2.54 billion, up 27.3%; packaging machinery and other was US$2.252 billion, up 34.95%; and bamboo and wood packaging was US$498 million, up 10.17%.

Chart: China packaging export value by segment, 2020–2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry exported US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. By registered location of consignees and consignors, the top five export regions were Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Shanghai. Guangdong exported US$12.941 billion, or 26.37%; Zhejiang, US$10.011 billion, or 20.4%; Jiangsu, US$6.413 billion, or 13.07%; Shandong, US$5.011 billion, or 10.21%; and Shanghai, US$3.096 billion, or 6.31%.

Chart: Share of leading export regions in China's packaging industry, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's national packaging industry exported US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. The top five export destinations were the United States, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. The United States accounted for 17.05%; Vietnam, 7.25%; Japan, 4.75%; South Korea, 4.17%; and Malaysia, 3.7%.

Chart: Share of leading export regions in China's packaging industry, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

In detail, 2021 exports to the United States were US$8.366 billion, up 33.28% year on year; to Vietnam, US$3.557 billion, up 16.97%; to Japan, US$2.329 billion, up 16.69%; to South Korea, US$2.045 billion, up 32.28%; and to Malaysia, US$1.818 billion, up 30.89%.

Chart: China packaging export value by main region, 2020–2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry exported US$49.076 billion, up 27.33% year on year. General trade exports were US$35.968 billion, up 28.98%; other trade, US$5.301 billion, up 41.52%; import processing trade, US$5.23 billion, up 13.03%; small-scale border trade, US$898 million, up 2.47%; and goods for transhipment stored in bonded areas, US$680 million, up 30.31%;

Goods entering and leaving bonded warehouses reached US$673 million, up 19.46%; processing and assembly trade with supplied materials, US$302 million, down 0.95%; goods exported under overseas contracted projects, US$19 million, up 71.21%; materials provided as gratuitous aid and gifts between countries and by international organizations, US$3 million, down 46.99%; outward processing trade, US$2 million, up 325.94%; and consignment and agency trade, US$2 million, up 554.88%.

Chart: China packaging export value by trade mode, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

III. Import Performance

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry imported US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year. Plastic packaging imports were US$14.934 billion, or 89.94% of the total; packaging machinery and other, US$1.223 billion, or 7.37%; metal packaging, US$196 million, or 1.18%; paper packaging, US$171 million, or 1.03%; glass packaging, US$78 million, or 0.47%; and bamboo and wood packaging, US$2 million, or 0.01%.

Chart: China packaging import mix by segment, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry imported US$16.604 billion. By registered location of consignees and consignors, the top five import regions were Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Tianjin. Jiangsu imported US$4.753 billion, or 28.63%; Guangdong, US$4.013 billion, or 24.17%; Shanghai, US$3.153 billion, or 18.99%; Zhejiang, US$795 million, or 4.79%; and Tianjin, US$635 million, or 3.82%.

Chart: Import value and share of leading regions in China's packaging industry, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

From January to December 2021, China's packaging industry imported US$16.604 billion, up 16.15% year on year. The top five import sources were Japan, South Korea, the United States, Taiwan Province and Germany. Japan accounted for 36.78%; South Korea, 17.91%; the United States, 11.58%; Taiwan Province, 9.36%; and Germany, 5.92%.

Chart: Share of leading import regions in China's packaging industry, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

In value terms, 2021 imports from Japan were US$6.108 billion, up 18.23% year on year; from South Korea, US$2.973 billion, up 10.85%; from the United States, US$1.923 billion, up 22.03%; from Taiwan Province, US$1.555 billion, up 17.12%; and from Germany, US$983 million, up 17.6%.

Chart: Import value and year-on-year growth of leading regions in China's packaging industry, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

By trade mode, 2021 imports under general trade were US$10.04 billion; import processing trade, US$4.446 billion; goods for transhipment stored in bonded areas, US$1.381 billion; processing and assembly trade with supplied materials, US$356 million; goods entering and leaving bonded warehouses, US$143 million; imported equipment in export processing zones, US$138 million; other, US$96 million; and equipment and goods imported by foreign-invested enterprises as investment, US$1 million.

Chart: China packaging import value by trade mode, 2021

Source: China Packaging Federation, compiled by Zhiyan Consulting

The above data and information can be referenced in

Survey of the Development Status and Market Analysis and Forecast Report for China's Packaging Industry, 2023–2029, published by Zhiyan Consulting

Zhiyan Consulting is a comprehensive information and intelligence provider in China's industrial consulting sector. Its brand philosophy is 'using information to drive industrial development and empower corporate investment decisions.' It offers professional industrial consulting services, including premium industry research reports, bespoke projects, monthly special topics, feasibility studies, business plans and industrial planning. It also provides regular weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports and customized data, covering policy monitoring, company developments, industry data, product price changes, investment and financing overviews, market opportunities and risk analysis.

— This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-379442.html