Sales in corrugated and containerboard packaging, as well as packaging solutions, contributed to the majority of the revenues of the top ten packaging companies in 2018. Packaging-gateway lists the top ten packaging companies based on revenue in 2018.

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018: Ranking the ten biggest companies

10. UPM

9. Amcor

8. Stora Enso Oyj

7. Smurfit Kappa Group

6. Ball Corporation

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5. Reynolds Group Holdings Limited

4. Oji Holdings Corporation

3. Tetra Laval Group

2. Westrock Co

1. International Paper

10. UPM – $8.7bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
UPM is a Finland-based packaging company with UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers, and UPM Plywood as its business divisions. Image courtesy of UPM Raflatac.

In 2018, UPM achieved year-on-year growth of 5% and earned revenues, which reached €10.48bn ($11.99bn). Packaging-related businesses, including UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers, and UPM Plywood, collectively contributed €7.6bn ($8.7bn) to the company’s revenue.

UPM Communication Papers generated the highest revenues during the year at €4.69bn ($5.36bn), followed by UPM Raflatac ($1.7bn), and UPM Specialty Papers ($1.63bn).

Based in Finland, UPM operates a diverse range of businesses offering sustainable and innovative products. Its business divisions include UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers, UPM Plywood, and Other operations.

9. Amcor – $9.31bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Amcor’s Flexibles division earned the highest revenues in 2018. Image courtesy of Amcor Limited.

Amcor posted revenues of $9.31bn in 2018, achieving year-on-year growth of 1%. The company’s divisions include Amcor Rigid Plastics, Amcor Flexibles, and other businesses. The Amcor Flexibles division contributed the highest revenues of $6.53bn, followed by Amcor Rigid Plastics ($2.78bn).

Product-wise, the films and other flexible products segment was the biggest contributor with $5.28bn in revenue. Geographically, the Western Europe and North American markets contributed to the majority of the company’s revenues at $3.06bn and $3.04bn, respectively.

Amcor is a US-based packaging products provider for a range of markets, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, home and personal care, and other products.

8. Stora Enso Oyj – $9.91bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Stora Enso Oyj’s packaging related businesses accounted for majority of its revenues during the year. Image courtesy of Stora Enso.

Stora Enso’s revenues in 2018 increased by 4.4% year-on-year to €10.48bn ($12.16bn). The paper, consumer board, biomaterials, and packaging solutions business accounted for 83% of the company revenues during the year, at €8.66bn ($9.91bn).

The paper division generated the highest revenues of €3.06bn ($3.5bn), followed by the consumer board division at €2.62bn ($2.99bn).

Stora Enso is a Finland-based provider of renewable solutions for the packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions, and paper industries. Its divisions are consumer board, packaging solutions, biomaterials, wood products, paper, and other business, which includes Nordic forest equity-accounted investments.

7. Smurfit Kappa Group – $10.23bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Smurfit Kappa Group achieved a 4% increase in revenues over the previous year. Image courtesy of Smurfit Kappa.

Smurfit Kappa Group recorded revenues of €8.94bn ($10.23bn), achieving a 4% growth over the previous year.

Segment-wise, the packaging division recorded the highest revenues of €7.43bn ($8.5bn), followed by the paper division (€1.51bn or $1.72bn). Geographically, the European region contributed the highest revenues of €6.92bn ($7.91bn), followed by the Americas, which contributed €2.02bn ($2.31bn) to the revenues.

Smurfit Kappa Group is an Ireland-based provider of paper-based packaging products and services. The company made a number of acquisitions during 2018 to strengthen its business, including Reparenco in the Netherlands and several containerboard mills and plants.

6. Ball Corporation – $10.43bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Ball Corporation includes packaging and aerospace divisions, with the former contributing to majority of the company’s revenues during the year. Image courtesy of Ball Corporation.

Ball Corporation earned $11.63bn in revenues in 2018, with the packaging division and related businesses contributing the majority of the revenues at $10.43bn. Ball Corporation is a US-based company operating with two business divisions – packaging and aerospace.

The packaging division provides solutions to a wide range of markets such as beverage, personal care, food, automotive, household, and paint. It includes three segments namely Beverage packaging, North and Central America; Beverage packaging, South America; and Beverage packaging, Europe.

The Beverage packaging, North and Central America segment accounted for the majority of the company’s revenues at $4.62bn, followed by the Beverage packaging, Europe at $2.6bn.

5. Reynolds Group Holdings Limited – $10.66bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Reynolds Group Holdings Limited includes a diverse range of businesses including Reynolds Consumer Products. Image courtesy of Reynolds Consumer Products.

Reynolds Group Holdings recorded revenues of $10.66bn in 2018, a 1% increase year-on-year. The company’s portfolio includes a diverse range of businesses, which are divided into five divisions namely Reynolds Consumer Products, Pactiv Foodservice, Graham Packaging, Evergreen Packaging, and Closure Systems International.

The Pactiv Foodservice division earned the highest revenues of $3.77bn, recording a year-on-year growth of 1%. The Reynolds Consumer Products division earned the second highest revenues at $3.14bn, recording a year-on-year growth of 6%, thanks to increased sales.

Based in New Zealand, Reynolds Group Holdings is a provider of consumer beverage and foodservice packaging products.

4. Oji Holdings Corporation – $14.07bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Oji Holdings Corporation is a provider of pulp and packaging products.

Oji Holdings, a provider of pulp and packaging products based in Japan, earned revenues of JPY1.55tn ($14.07bn) in 2018. The company’s main business divisions are household and industrial materials, functional materials, forest resources and environmental marketing, and printing and communications media.

The household and industrial materials division was the biggest contributor to the revenue, at JPY678.5bn ($6.15bn), followed by the functional materials division with JPY225.9bn ($2.04bn).

The forest resources and environment marketing division earned JPY328.4bn ($2.97bn), while the printing and communications media division generated JPY302.2bn ($2.73bn). Other businesses accounted for the remaining revenues.

3. Tetra Laval Group – $16.65bn (2017 revenue)

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Tetra Laval Group includes the Tetra Pak, Sidel and DeLaval business groups. Image courtesy of Tetra Pak.

Tetra Laval earned €13.9bn ($16.65bn) in revenues in 2017, recording a 1% increase compared to 2016. The company operates through three business groups namely Tetra Pak, Sidel, and DeLaval.

The Tetra Pak group accounted for more than 82% of the group revenues, contributing €11.5bn ($13.77bn), followed by the Sidel group with €1.4bn ($1.67bn) and DeLaval with €980m ($1.17bn).

Based in Switzerland, Tetra Laval Group is a provider of equipment and solutions for the production, packaging, and distribution of food. Tetra Pak is a food processing and packaging solutions provider, Sidel offers packaging equipment and services, and DeLaval supplies equipment and systems for milk production and animal husbandry.

2. Westrock Co – $16.71bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
Westrock Co acquired KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation during the year. Image courtesy of Alabama Department of Commerce.

Westrock’s revenues in 2018 increased by 10% year-on-year to $16.71bn. The company operates through three business segments including corrugated packaging, consumer packaging, and land and development.

The corrugated and consumer packaging businesses together account for the majority of the company’s revenues, while the land and development segment’s revenues contribute marginally.

Westrock completed the acquisition of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation for $4.8bn during the year. The acquisition added speciality kraft paper products to the company’s portfolio. The company also acquired Schlüter and Plymouth Packaging during the year.

Westrock is a paper and packaging solutions provider headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

1. International Paper – $23.3bn

Top ten packaging companies by revenue in 2018
International Paper emerged as the top company with revenues of $23.3bn. Image courtesy of FreeImages.com/Davide Guglielmo.

International Paper earned revenues of $23.3bn in 2018, compared to $21.7bn in the previous year. The company’s business divisions include industrial packaging, global cellulose fibres, and printing papers.

The industrial packaging segment earned the highest revenues of $15.9bn, followed by printing papers at $4.37bn and global cellulose fibres at $2.82bn. Within the industrial packaging segment, corrugated packaging accounted for the majority of the revenues at $10.62bn, followed by containerboard at $3.22bn.

International Paper is a fibre-based packaging, pulp and paper manufacturer based in the US.