Market Forecast By Material (Linerboard, Medium), By Printing Ink ( Water-based, UV-curable, Hot melt-based, Solvent-based), By Printing Technology (Digital, Flexography, Lithography) And Competitive Landscape
| Product Code: ETC4600705 | Publication Date: Jul 2023 | Updated Date: Nov 2025 | Product Type: Report | |
| Publisher: 6Wresearch | Author: Ravi Bhandari | No. of Pages: 85 | No. of Figures: 45 | No. of Tables: 25 |
India`s corrugated boxes import market continues to show strong growth, with a notable increase in concentration among top exporting countries in 2024. The high Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) indicates a significant level of market concentration, which intensified further during the year. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.84% from 2020 to 2024 and a remarkable growth rate of 17.44% from 2023 to 2024, the sector is experiencing rapid expansion and attracting shipments primarily from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, USA, and Germany. This trend underscores the evolving dynamics and competitiveness within the corrugated boxes import market in India.

According to 6Wresearch internal database and industry insights, the India Corrugated Boxes Market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during the forecast period (2025-2031).
Below mentioned are the evaluation of year-wise growth rate along with key drivers:
| Year | Est. Annual growth in % | Growth Drivers |
| 2020 | 5.8% | increasing e-commerce penetration driving demand for protective packaging. |
| 2021 | 6.5% | Rising FMCG, food & beverage, and electronics sectors requiring sturdy packaging. |
| 2022 | 7.3% | Government initiatives promoting sustainable and recyclable packaging materials. |
| 2023 | 8.5% | Technological adoption in printing and customization for branding. |
| 2024 | 8.9% | Expansion of logistics and cold-chain infrastructure boosting corrugated box usage. |
India Corrugated Boxes Market report thoroughly covers the market by material, printing ink, and printing technology. The report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of ongoing market trends, opportunities/high growth areas, and market drivers, which would help stakeholders devise and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.
| Report Name | India Corrugated Boxes Market |
| Forecast Period | 2025-2031 |
| CAGR | 9.20% |
| Growing Sector | Packaging |
The India Corrugated Boxes Market is growing rapidly. The market is driven by rising demand from various sectors such as e-commerce, FMCG, food & beverage, and electronics. Further, corrugated boxes are preferred by the consumers for their lightweight and recyclable properties. Additionally, growing technological advancements in digital and flexographic printing are enabling better customization and branding. Meanwhile, government initiatives that are encouraging the growth of sustainable packaging are additionally accelerating market adoption.
Below mentioned some growth drivers and their impact on market dynamics:
| Drivers | Primary Segments Affected | Why It Matters |
| Rising E-commerce Demand | FMCG, Electronics Packaging | Boosts volume of packaging required |
| Growth in FMCG & Food Sectors | Material (Linerboard, Medium) | Increases demand for quality packaging |
| Sustainability & Recycling Initiatives | Material & Printing Ink | Encourages eco-friendly packaging adoption |
| Technological Advancements | Printing Technology | Enables customization and branding |
| Expansion of Logistics & Cold Chain | All Segments | Supports safe transport and storage |
The India Corrugated Boxes Market is projected to grow significantly, with a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period of 2025-2031. Rapid growth of e-commerce, retail, and FMCG sectors are encouraging the Corrugated Boxes market growth in India. These sectors have great demand for durable, lightweight, and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Further, growing consumer preference for sustainable and recyclable materials is driving the smooth expansion of the industry. New technological advancements in corrugated box manufacturing, customization options, and cost-effective production processes additionally increase efficiency and appeal, supporting steady market expansion across diverse industries.
Below mentioned are some major restraints and their influence on market dynamics:
| Restraints | Primary Segments Affected | What This Means |
| High Raw Material Costs | Linerboard, Medium | Impacts profit margins |
| Competition from Plastic & Rigid Packaging | All Segments | Reduces corrugated box adoption |
| Limited Skilled Workforce | Printing Technology | Slows production efficiency |
| Infrastructure Bottlenecks | Distribution & Logistics | Affects timely deliveries |
| Fluctuating Paper Prices | Material | Affects cost stability |
The market faces numerous hurdles in its path of growth. These hurdles include less awareness among consumers and small vendors for the usage of eco-friendly materials. Further, the fluctuating pricing of mainly paper and board hampers this industry expansion by limiting its usage by consumers due to its high cost. There is still a need for making strategic investments in the supply chain and operational inefficiencies for the regulation of the co-regulated box.
Following are the major trends driving India Corrugated Boxes Market growth :-
The investment opportunities within the India Corrugated Boxes industry include:-
| Company Name | TCPL Packaging Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
| Established | 1993 |
| Website | Click Here |
TCPL Packaging offers customized corrugated solutions for FMCG, electronics, and food industries. They emphasize sustainable materials and innovative printing technology.
| Company Name | TCI Packaging Solutions |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Established | 2001 |
| Website | Click Here |
TCI Packaging focuses on durable corrugated boxes with digital and flexographic printing, serving logistics, e-commerce, and cold-chain industries.
| Company Name | Kores India Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
| Established | 1946 |
| Website | Click Here |
Kores manufactures high-quality corrugated packaging and linerboards. Their products cater to FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and export sectors with sustainability in focus.
| Company Name | West Coast Paper Mills Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Pune, India |
| Established | 1947 |
| Website | Click Here |
West Coast Paper Mills specializes in linerboard and medium production, supplying to packaging converters across India.
| Company Name | The Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills (APPM) |
| Headquarters | Visakhapatnam, India |
| Established | 1965 |
| Website | Click Here |
APPM focuses on eco-friendly corrugated materials and offers printing and packaging solutions to FMCG and e-commerce clients.
According to Indian Government Data, The swift expansion of e-commerce, retail, and FMCG industries is propelling the growth of the corrugated boxes market in India. These sectors exhibit significant need for resilient, lightweight, and environmentally sustainable packaging solutions. The increasing customer preference for sustainable and recyclable materials is facilitating the steady growth of the business. Recent technical innovations in corrugated box manufacturing, together with enhanced customisation possibilities and economical production methods, further augment efficiency and attractiveness, facilitating consistent market growth across many sectors.
The India Corrugated Boxes Market is expected to maintain robust growth due to rising e-commerce shipments, FMCG and electronics sector expansion, and sustainability initiatives. Adoption of digital and flexographic printing technologies, coupled with premium and branded packaging trends, will continue to support market growth. Opportunities exist in eco-friendly materials, cold-chain packaging, and value-added services to meet evolving industry demands.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the subsequent market segments and their leading categories.
According to Guneet Kaur, Senior Research Analyst, 6Wresearch, the linerboard segment is growing rapidly due to its strength, durability, and widespread use in protective packaging. Its eco-friendly nature and compatibility with automated production make it increasingly preferred by manufacturers and end-users alike.
The water-based ink segment is expanding due to its low environmental impact and compliance with sustainable packaging trends. These inks provide consistent print quality, safety for food packaging, and ease of application, which drives adoption among corrugated box producers.
Flexography is the fastest growing printing technology due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ability to handle large-scale production. It offers excellent color reproduction on corrugated surfaces and supports diverse ink types, making it highly adaptable for modern packaging requirements.
The report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments:
| 1 Executive Summary |
| 2 Introduction |
| 2.1 Key Highlights of the Report |
| 2.2 Report Description |
| 2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation |
| 2.4 Research Methodology |
| 2.5 Assumptions |
| 3 India Corrugated Boxes Market Overview |
| 3.1 India Country Macro Economic Indicators |
| 3.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, 2021 & 2031F |
| 3.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market - Industry Life Cycle |
| 3.4 India Corrugated Boxes Market - Porter's Five Forces |
| 3.5 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Material, 2021 & 2031F |
| 3.6 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Printing Ink, 2021 & 2031F |
| 3.7 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Printing Technology, 2021 & 2031F |
| 4 India Corrugated Boxes Market Dynamics |
| 4.1 Impact Analysis |
| 4.2 Market Drivers |
| 4.2.1 Increasing e-commerce activities in India leading to higher demand for corrugated boxes |
| 4.2.2 Growing emphasis on sustainable packaging solutions driving the adoption of corrugated boxes |
| 4.2.3 Rise in organized retail sector boosting the usage of corrugated boxes for packaging and transportation |
| 4.3 Market Restraints |
| 4.3.1 Fluctuating raw material prices impacting the production cost of corrugated boxes |
| 4.3.2 Competition from alternative packaging materials such as plastic impacting the market growth |
| 4.3.3 Lack of awareness and infrastructure in some regions hindering the penetration of corrugated boxes |
| 5 India Corrugated Boxes Market Trends |
| 6 India Corrugated Boxes Market, By Types |
| 6.1 India Corrugated Boxes Market, By Material |
| 6.1.1 Overview and Analysis |
| 6.1.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Material, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.1.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Linerboard, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.1.4 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Medium, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market, By Printing Ink |
| 6.2.1 Overview and Analysis |
| 6.2.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Water-based, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.2.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By UV-curable, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.2.4 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Hot melt-based, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.2.5 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Solvent-based, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market, By Printing Technology |
| 6.3.1 Overview and Analysis |
| 6.3.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Digital, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.3.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Flexography, 2021 - 2031F |
| 6.3.4 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenues & Volume, By Lithography, 2021 - 2031F |
| 7 India Corrugated Boxes Market Import-Export Trade Statistics |
| 7.1 India Corrugated Boxes Market Export to Major Countries |
| 7.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Imports from Major Countries |
| 8 India Corrugated Boxes Market Key Performance Indicators |
| 8.1 Recycling rate of corrugated boxes in India |
| 8.2 Adoption rate of eco-friendly packaging solutions in the country |
| 8.3 Growth in the number of corrugated box manufacturers adopting advanced technology for production |
| 9 India Corrugated Boxes Market - Opportunity Assessment |
| 9.1 India Corrugated Boxes Market Opportunity Assessment, By Material, 2021 & 2031F |
| 9.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Opportunity Assessment, By Printing Ink, 2021 & 2031F |
| 9.3 India Corrugated Boxes Market Opportunity Assessment, By Printing Technology, 2021 & 2031F |
| 10 India Corrugated Boxes Market - Competitive Landscape |
| 10.1 India Corrugated Boxes Market Revenue Share, By Companies, 2024 |
| 10.2 India Corrugated Boxes Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating and Technical Parameters |
| 11 Company Profiles |
| 12 Recommendations |
| 13 Disclaimer |