2023-2028 Sustainable Molded Pulp Packaging Trends and Import Rankings for the Middle East and Africa Market Size

Molded pulp has moved from a niche solution for egg cartons and industrial trays to a mainstream option in the global sustainable packaging mix. In this article, I use a regional forecast dataset to show how this shift is playing out across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Forecast of Sales Revenue (or Estimated Market Size) for Molded Pulp Products by Major Regions (2022–2028, USD million)

The table above shows that while North America and Europe continue to grow steadily, Asia-Pacific has become the largest regional market for molded pulp, and Latin America and MEA are catching up from a smaller base. For MEA in particular, the revenue line climbs from about USD 259 million in 2022 to roughly USD 337 million by 2028 in this scenario, which suggests that molded pulp is quietly becoming a meaningful part of the regional packaging landscape.

2017–2028 Middle East & Africa Molded Pulp Product Sales Volume and Revenue

What are the market size trends of molded pulp products in the Middle East & Africa in recent years?

From 2017 to 2021, molded pulp volumes in the Middle East & Africa move in a relatively narrow band around the mid-30s (100M units), with revenues fluctuating in the USD 230–250 million range. This is a period where plastics still dominate most categories, while paper-based packaging grows but not dramatically.

The picture changes from 2022 onward. Volumes step up from 40.13 (2022E) to a projected 53.45 (2027E) before a slight correction to 51.78 (2028E). Between 2023 and 2028, sales volumes grow at an implied CAGR of roughly 5.9%, and revenues in USD terms climb at about 5.8% annually. The year-on-year pattern is “staircase, not rocket”: a strong double-digit volume jump in 2024 (+17.9%), a pause in 2025, then renewed acceleration in 2026–2027 as more applications switch from EPS and rigid plastics to fiber, followed by a mild normalization in 2028.

In my view, these curves show that the MEA molded pulp market is not an overnight boom, but a category climbing steadily as paper packaging, recycling systems and environmental rules improve. It looks more like a slowly rising tide in the overall packaging mix than a one-off spike.

Why are more Middle Eastern and African companies opting to replace traditional packaging with molded pulp?

• Single-use plastic regulations are tightening.
  Across the Gulf and parts of Africa, more cities and countries are introducing bans or levies on single-use plastics such as carrier bags, polystyrene food containers and certain cutlery items. When these materials become harder or more expensive to use, molded pulp is a natural alternative for trays, clamshells and protective packaging.
• Paper and paperboard packaging are on a growth streak.
  The region’s paper and paperboard packaging demand is growing alongside e-commerce, food and beverage and FMCG. Molded pulp is essentially the 3D extension of this ecosystem: it can use similar recycled fiber streams and go into the same recovery systems, which simplifies life for both brands and recyclers.
• Food, beverage, and agribusiness need better protection and presentation.
  Eggs, fresh produce, poultry and dates or other fruits all benefit from packaging that is protective but still perceived as “natural”. The steady rise in molded pulp volume suggests that more of these SKUs are moving away from loose or plastic-heavy formats into fiber trays, cups and end-caps.
• Retail, logistics, and e-commerce are scaling up.
  As modern retail formats and local e-commerce platforms expand, demand for secondary and protective packaging increases. Using corrugated boxes together with paper-based cushioning and molded pulp inserts keeps most of the system within the paper stream, which simplifies material management and recycling.
• Local fiber and molded fiber capacity are improving.
  More producers in the Middle East and Africa are investing in kraft paper, recycled board and molded pulp lines. As local capacity grows, brands no longer need to rely solely on long-distance imports, which shortens lead times and makes total cost of ownership more predictable.
• Brand and government sustainability narratives are converging.
  Governments are talking about waste, recycling and plastic reduction, while brands are talking about ESG and low-carbon packaging. Molded pulp sits in the overlap: it is fiber-based, visually “natural”, and relatively easy to explain to consumers.

Summary: what this means for brands and converters in MEA

• From side show to a meaningful line item.
  In this scenario, MEA molded pulp revenues grow from just over USD 230 million pre-2022 to more than USD 330 million by 2028. That is still a small share of the global pie, but big enough to matter on the P&L of regional paper and packaging groups.
• Growth is gradual but durable.
  The curve is a staircase, with strong steps around 2024 and 2026–2027 and occasional breathers. The underlying drivers—plastic policy, paper packaging penetration, and modern retail/e-commerce—are structural rather than cyclical.
• Regulation sets a rising floor.
  As single-use plastics are restricted or taxed, many “default plastic” applications are being forced to reconsider material choices. In eggs, produce, foodservice and protective packaging, molded pulp is moving from “nice-to-have pilot” to “standard option”.
• Design and localization will decide the winners.
  Simply swapping a plastic tray for any pulp tray is not enough. The most competitive players will differentiate through tooling design, nesting efficiency, surface quality and localized supply chains.
• Integrated fiber systems are the endgame.
  Many brands in MEA already rely on corrugated outers, paper bags and paper-based void fill. Adding molded pulp trays and inserts closes the loop toward mono-material, curbside-recyclable packaging systems—and makes sustainability reporting much easier.

References

1. Fortune Business Insights, Market.us, Precedence Research, MarketsandMarkets, Global Industry Analysts – global molded pulp / molded fiber packaging market size and growth outlook.
2. Grand View Research, “Middle East & Africa Molded Pulp Packaging Market Outlook” – estimates for regional revenue and growth.
3. Data Bridge Market Research, “Middle East and Africa Molded Fiber Packaging Market” – key application segments and regional trends.
4. Mordor Intelligence & Grand View Research, Middle East & Africa Paper and Paperboard / Paper Packaging Market – broader paper and board context for the region.
5. Local government and industry communications on single-use plastic policies in the GCC and selected African countries.
6. PG Paper and other industry commentary on kraft paper and recycled fiber investments in Middle East and African markets.