1、 Overview of the Packaging and Printing Industry

According to the classification of packaging materials, the packaging industry can be divided into fine molecular industries such as paper packaging, metal packaging, plastic packaging, glass packaging, and other packaging. According to the statistics of China Packaging Federation in 2011, the paper packaging market accounted for 39%, followed by plastic packaging, metal packaging, and glass packaging markets, accounting for 34%, 17%, and 6% respectively.

According to relevant data, the global packaging market has grown rapidly since reaching 516 billion US dollars in 2007, and is expected to reach 820 billion US dollars in 2016, with a compound annual growth rate of about 4.74%. Among them, paper packaging products will occupy an increasingly important position in the future packaging industry due to their low price, green environmental protection, and excellent processing performance.

The Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Transformation and Development of China's Packaging Industry issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Commerce propose to keep the growth rate of the packaging industry synchronized with the growth rate of the national economy, and to ensure that the scale of industrial development is in line with the demand for supporting services. By 2020, the annual main business revenue of the packaging industry will reach 2.5 trillion yuan, forming more than 15 enterprises or groups with an annual output value exceeding 5 billion yuan. The number of listed companies and high-tech enterprises will significantly increase, actively cultivating new industrial demonstration bases with outstanding packaging industry characteristics, and forming a group of well-known brands with strong influence.

2、 The Development Status of Global Corrugated Packaging Industry

(1) Asia has become one of the main producers of corrugated packaging industry in the world

According to the statistics of the International Corrugated Box Association ICCA, in 2015, the production and sales of corrugated boxes in the world accounted for a relatively large proportion in Asia, reaching 51.2%, followed by Europe, North America, Central and South America, Africa and Oceania.

The main production and sales regions of corrugated cardboard boxes in the world in 2015

(2) Growth rate of global corrugated packaging industry

From 2013 to 2016, the global corrugated industry maintained an average growth rate of 4%; In emerging markets, the average annual growth rate in South America, including Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, is 3%. The growth rate in Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam is about 7%, while the growth rate in Central and Eastern European markets is 4%. The growth rate in the Chinese market is relatively fast, reaching 7%. It is expected that China will maintain its dominant position in the global corrugated packaging market in the future.

Global average corrugated growth rate from 2013 to 2016

(3) High concentration of overseas corrugated packaging market

Unlike the domestic market, the overseas corrugated packaging market is currently highly concentrated, with the five major cardboard box manufacturers in the United States having a combined market share of over 70%, with International Paper alone reaching 27%; The combined share of the top three cardboard box manufacturers in Taiwan exceeds 50%. Although the domestic corrugated cardboard box market is relatively large in scale, its maturity level is lower than the international level, and the market is very dispersed with a concentration of less than 10%. With the specialized development of cardboard manufacturing and the promotion of consumer upgrading, the differences within the industry will gradually widen. Leading enterprises will accelerate integration and mergers and acquisitions, and the survival of the fittest will inevitably lead to an increase in market concentration in the future.

3、 The Development Status of China's Corrugated Packaging Industry

(1) Overview of the Development of Corrugated Packaging Market in China

Although the annual production of corrugated cardboard boxes in China has fluctuated due to short-term supply and demand, the average annual growth rate has reached 20.9% since 2000. In 2015, the cumulative production of corrugated cardboard boxes in China reached 40.3151 million tons, accounting for about 80% of China's paper packaging products.