The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), Annapolis, Md., released its 2017 State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Report, which provides industry converters, suppliers, investors and analysts with insight into the performance (growth, revenue/volume expectations, profitability, capital spending) of the U.S. flexible packaging industry over the past year.

This definitive source of data and information also examines several other aspects of the U.S. flexible packaging industry, including:

  • Performance (growth, revenue/volume expectations, profitability and capital spending).
  • Materials and processes (printing and expected material usage).
  • End-uses (end-use forecast and U.S. Census Bureau retail segments data).
  • Structure and consolidation (M&A activity).
  • Imports and exports (trade outlook).
  • Industry vision, challenges and critical issues.

The U.S. flexible packaging industry is estimated to be about $30.2 billion in annual sales for 2016. It represents 19% of the $164 billion U.S. packaging industry and is the second largest segment behind corrugated paper.

According to the report, growth of the U.S. flexible packaging industry has been steady over the past 10 years with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9% and a 2016 annual growth rate of 2.4%. FPA estimates that the industry will increase to $31 billion in 2017.

Data available in the report is gathered through several industry sources, including FPA members, the State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Survey, the FPA non-members Industry-Wide Converter Survey, the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest Annual Survey of Manufacturers, U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce, industry analysts and consultants, investment banking reports and the FPA long-term historical model of flexible packaging industry growth.