Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, By Type (Horizontal End Side-Load Cartons, Top-Load Carton, Vertical Leaflet, Wraparound Cartons and Others), By Application (Alcoholic Beverages, Soft Drinks, Dairy Beverages), By Functional Automation (Semi-Automatic Machines and Automatic Machines), By Company and By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.87 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.17%
Fastest Growing Segment	Wraparound Cartons
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 2.53 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market will grow from USD 1.87 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.53 Billion by 2031 at a 5.17% CAGR. The Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market comprises the capital equipment responsible for erecting, filling, and sealing paperboard-based containers for liquid consumables such as dairy, juices, and plant-based alternatives. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the intensifying global demand for sustainable packaging formats that reduce plastic usage and the critical need for high-speed automation to offset labor shortages while ensuring product safety. According to VDMA, in 2023, the global trade volume for food processing and packaging machinery increased to over 52 billion euros, illustrating the resilient investment in this sector despite economic headwinds.

However, a significant challenge potentially impeding rapid market expansion is the stringent and evolving regulatory environment regarding packaging waste and recyclability standards. Compliance with complex frameworks, such as the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, often necessitates substantial upfront capital for machinery upgrades or replacements, which can create hesitation among manufacturers and delay the procurement of new equipment.

Key Market Drivers

The Shift Toward Sustainable and Renewable Packaging Materials is fundamentally reshaping the machinery landscape, compelling manufacturers to invest in equipment capable of handling plant-based polymers and non-foil barriers. This transition necessitates the replacement of legacy systems with advanced filling lines designed to process lower carbon footprint materials without compromising seal integrity or speed. As brands aggressively decarbonize their supply chains, the installation base for machinery compatible with renewable structures is expanding rapidly. According to Packaging Dive, June 2024, in the 'Tetra Pak reports plant-based plastics demand growing in North America' article, the U.S. and Canada market delivered nearly 1.4 billion packs with plant-based plastics in 2023, representing a 330% year-over-year increase that directly influences equipment specifications.

Simultaneously, the Rising Demand for Aseptic Packaging to Extend Product Shelf Life is fueling the procurement of high-speed, sterile filling technologies to support complex global distribution networks. Producers are prioritizing machinery that ensures product safety and longevity without refrigeration, driving significant organic growth in the aseptic segment. According to SIG Group, February 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the company achieved an organic aseptic carton revenue growth of 7.4% at constant currency, underscoring the robust demand for sterile packaging solutions. This sector-wide momentum is reflected in the financial performance of major technology providers; for instance, According to Krones, March 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the group’s revenue increased by 12.2% year-on-year to €4.7 billion, driven by sustained investment in filling and packaging technology.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The stringent and evolving regulatory environment regarding packaging waste and recyclability standards serves as a significant restraint on the Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market. As governments enforce rigorous compliance frameworks, such as the mandate for tethered caps or specific fiber-content thresholds under the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, beverage manufacturers face substantial uncertainty regarding future technical requirements. This ambiguity forces companies to adopt a cautious approach, delaying capital-intensive procurement decisions to avoid investing in equipment that might fail to meet future standards. The necessity for expensive retrofits or entirely new production lines to ensure compliance strains capital budgets, creating a financial barrier that creates hesitation and stalls rapid market expansion.

This trend of deferred investment is clearly reflected in recent industry performance metrics, where regulatory unpredictability has contributed to a contraction in new business for equipment suppliers. According to VDMA, in 2024, incoming orders for the food processing and packaging machinery sector declined by 7% in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in the previous year. This downturn underscores how the lack of planning security and the financial burden of meeting complex environmental mandates are directly hampering the growth and immediate order intake of the machinery market.

Key Market Trends

The shift toward energy-efficient and low-carbon machinery designs is accelerating as beverage producers seek to minimize operational utility consumption and align with Scope 1 and 2 decarbonization targets. Unlike the focus on sustainable packaging materials, this trend centers on the equipment itself, driving the engineering of filling lines that utilize advanced water recovery systems, energy-saving servo motors, and optimized cleaning-in-place (CIP) cycles. These technical improvements directly reduce the intake of water, steam, and electricity during high-speed production, offering a tangible return on investment through lower utility bills. According to Tetra Pak, May 2024, in the 'Tetra Pak introduces Factory Sustainable Solutions program to lower energy and water usage' article, the implementation of their new water recovery technology enabled a customer to reduce water consumption by 95%, saving approximately 22 million liters annually.

Simultaneously, the adoption of robotics and automated end-of-line solutions is surging, driven by the imperative to enhance line efficiency and mitigate the risks associated with labor volatility. Manufacturers are increasingly integrating robotic palletizers, case packers, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to ensure seamless material handling and high throughput consistency that manual labor cannot sustain. This automation extends beyond simple repetitive tasks to include complex pick-and-place operations that handle multiple pack formats with precision. The robust growth in this segment is evident in manufacturing output; according to VDMA, June 2024, in the 'Packaging machinery production reached record high in 2023' update, the production value of the beverage packaging machinery sector in Germany increased by 18% to €2.8 billion, reflecting the heavy industrial investment in these automated systems.

Segmental Insights

Within the Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, the Wraparound Cartons segment is currently experiencing the most rapid growth. This expansion is primarily driven by the intensifying global transition toward sustainable secondary packaging, as beverage manufacturers actively replace plastic shrink wrap and rings with renewable paperboard multipacks. Wraparound machinery is increasingly favored for its material efficiency, as it tightly secures containers using significantly less board than traditional cases, thereby optimizing production costs. Furthermore, the retail sector’s rising preference for shelf-ready packaging fuels this demand, as wraparound designs offer superior branding real estate and streamline the shelf-stocking process.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific holds a leading position in the Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, primarily driven by rapid urbanization and expanding middle-class populations in emerging economies like China and India. This demographic shift has substantially increased consumer demand for packaged dairy products and fruit juices. Consequently, regional manufacturers are investing in automated machinery to enhance production efficiency and ensure product safety. Additionally, rising environmental awareness and the subsequent industry shift toward recyclable carton materials over rigid plastics further accelerate the adoption of packaging equipment across the region.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Tetra Pak introduced its new Tetra Pak® Factory OS™ at the Gulfood Manufacturing event in Dubai. This advanced automation and digital portfolio was designed to enable food and beverage producers to operate AI-ready, connected factories. The solution aimed to optimize production efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance quality control by leveraging real-time data and machine learning. During the event, the company also formalized strategic partnerships to improve the recycling value chain for liquid packaging cartons, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles within the industry.
• In April 2025, Elopak ASA officially opened its first carton converting plant in the United States, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. This facility represented a major strategic expansion for the company, supported by an investment exceeding USD 100 million. The plant was equipped with state-of-the-art technology to produce Pure-Pak® cartons for fresh liquid dairy, juices, and plant-based drinks, catering to the growing demand in the North American market. The establishment of this production site allowed the company to serve local customers more effectively and reduced logistical emissions by manufacturing packaging materials closer to filling operations.
• In November 2024, SIG Group expanded its filling technology portfolio by launching the SIG Neo Slimline 15 Aseptic machine at the Gulfood Manufacturing exhibition in Dubai. This next-generation system was engineered to fill up to 15,000 family-size carton packs per hour, offering a significant output increase compared to previous standard models. The machine featured a compact footprint and high flexibility, allowing manufacturers to switch between different package volumes and products efficiently. This development aimed to reduce the total cost of ownership for beverage producers while maintaining high environmental and hygiene standards.
• In October 2024, Pactiv Evergreen Inc. introduced two new beverage carton filling machines and its patented SmartPour™ pourable containers at PACK EXPO International in Chicago. The company utilized this platform to demonstrate its enhanced capabilities in delivering comprehensive packaging solutions for the global beverage sector. Designed to optimize the filling process for the new SmartPour™ packages, the machinery supported applications for both liquid and dry products with resealable convenience. This strategic product launch underscored the company's commitment to innovation in sustainable paper-based packaging, aiming to provide functional and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional rigid plastic containers.

Key Market Players

• R.A.Jones
• Coesia S.p.A.
• Nichrome Packaging Solutions
• Imanpack Packaging and Eco Solutions S.p.A.
• Langley Holdings plc
• Jacob White Packaging Ltd.
• KHS Group
• OPTIMA
• Syntegon Technology GmbH
• Mpac Group plc

By Type	By Application	By Functional Automation	By Region
Horizontal End Side-Load Cartons Top-Load Carton Vertical Leaflet Wraparound Cartons and Others	Alcoholic Beverages Soft Drinks Dairy Beverages	Semi-Automatic Machines and Automatic Machines	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, By Type:

• Horizontal End Side-Load Cartons
• Top-Load Carton
• Vertical Leaflet
• Wraparound Cartons and Others

• Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, By Application:

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Soft Drinks
• Dairy Beverages

• Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, By Functional Automation:

• Semi-Automatic Machines and Automatic Machines

• Beverage Carton Packaging Machinery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE