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Thermoform Packaging Market To Reach $83.58Bn By 2033

Thermoform Packaging Market To Reach $83.58 Billion By 2033

December 2025 | Report Format: Electronic (PDF)

Thermoform Packaging Market Growth & Trends

The global thermoform packaging market size is expected to reach USD 83.58 million by 2033, registering a CAGR of 5.5% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. High adoption of products, such as blisters & clamshell packaging, containers, and trays & lids, by the end-user industries including food & beverages, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care & cosmetics, coupled with increased penetration of organized and e-retail, have been driving the market from the past several years.

In thermoforming, the thermoplastic sheet is heated up to its pliable temperature and then placed over a mold until it cools and takes shape of the mold. A thin-gauge sheet, which is usually less than 0.060 inches, is mainly used to produce rigid disposable products, such as trays, bowls, containers, plates, and others. Thermoforming plastic molding process offers several advantages over injection molding including lower tooling cost, less wastage of material, and less per-unit cost for short-run production, owing to which the end-use industries, primarily food & beverages, mainly prefer thermoformed packaging products.

The packaged food industry, wherein thermoformed trays, containers, and tubs are widely used for the packaging of meat, fruits, eggs, and ready meals, is rapidly expanding across the world. Increasing urbanization and penetration of retail networks coupled with changing lifestyles are majorly contributing to the growth of the global packaged food industry, and thereby augmenting the product demand. Moreover, the rising micro-family structure, which creates demand for single-serve packaging, is expected to favor the growth of the market.

Global electronic manufacturers are mainly focusing on the development of compact devices, as they are easy to carry, which, in turn, is expected to benefit the usage of products such as trays and containers. However, electronics and food manufacturers are gradually shifting towards sustainable products, such as molded pulp trays. This increasing availability of alternative solutions coupled with the growing awareness regarding sustainability among consumers is likely to limit the market growth over the forecast period.

Due to their effectiveness, thermoformed blisters are widely utilized for the packaging of pharmaceutical solid oral dose products, such as capsules and tablets. These benefits of blisters along with their low cost and ease of usage are attracting North American pharmaceutical companies to switch from the traditional bottle packaging for solid oral doses, thereby supporting market growth. Moreover, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with the growing aging population has been driving the global pharmaceutical industry, which in turn, is expected to increase the product application scope in the pharmaceutical industry.

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest as well as the fastest-growing regional market from 2021 to 2028. This growth is credited to the rapid penetration of organized and e-retail sectors coupled with increased spending on processed food and consumer products, which drive the product demand in the regional market. Market participants across the globe compete on the basis of product differentiation and services offered. Pactiv LLC emerged as the market leader in 2020 on account of its wide-scale product offerings, especially for food & beverage applications.

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Thermoform Packaging Market Report Highlights

The Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) segment dominated the market, accounting for 44.8% of global revenue share in 2025. PET’s inherent advantages, such as high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent clarity, low moisture absorption
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is projected to exhibit notable growth given its strong barrier properties, shatter resistance, lightweight nature, and cost competitiveness relative to materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP).
The containers product segment led the global market, accounting for 25.8 % of the revenue share in 2025. Its dominance is driven by the extensive use of thermoformed containers across the foodservice industry
The clamshell segment is projected to record the fastest CAGR of 6.2 % from 2026 to 2033. Strong visual appeal and product visibility make clamshells highly attractive in retail settings.
The food and beverage segment held the largest share of the global thermoform packaging industry, accounting for 51.2 % of the revenue in 2025. Its dominance is supported by the extensive use of containers, trays, and clamshells across packaged food manufacturers
The North America thermoform packaging industry dominated the market with a revenue share of 26.3% in 2025. The widespread presence of large-sized packaged food companies and strong penetration of organized retail contributed to the high share of the regional market in 2025.